With a season crumbling in front of them but a division still in reach, the New Orleans Saints will be an interesting team to watch at the trade deadline. They certainly shouldn’t be buyers, but whether they decide to sell or do nothing will be monitored. Trading Justin Reid is a move that could help the Saints defense this year and Jonas Sanker’s development long term.
The Athletic's Jonathan Jones recently listed Reid as a potential trade target and made a compelling case. Jones wrote, "Veteran safety Justin Reid is also a potential trade target, with a low salary this year and no guaranteed money in 2027."
The lack of guaranteed money next season is what makes this move feel like a real possibility. The team that trades for Reid won't have to be married to him in the future, and Saints fans will be happy to see the divorce in New Orleans. The high profile free agent has not delivered in his two seasons with the Saints.
Jonas Sanker taking over for Justin Reid could maximize Sanker and Saints defense
Sanker showed the makings of an impact player during his rookie season, and he did that at safety. He's been fine at STAR, but he hasn't been impactful in the way many were hoping for.
Sanker hasn’t been bad, but it does feel like they’re mishandling him. There was excitement around the idea of moving Sanker to STAR after losing Alontae Taylor. The usage hasn’t exactly matched with the idea, however.
Brandon Staley used safety Derwin James in the STAR role, and he moved all around the field. That hasn’t been the case for Sanker. The physicality associated with safeties in this role has been nonexistent with Sanker.
The Saints don’t use Sanker as a physical player, but rather a traditional slot corner. He isn't this versatile piece that blitzes and is heavily involved run game. Sanker has been watered down to essentially just a coverage guy, which is a waste of his skillset.
Sanker is an attacker, and the best plays he makes are coming downhill. We've seen it in spurts this season, but that clearly isn't Staley's vision for Sanker in this role. That makes the decision to line him up at STAR more questionable.
Returning Sanker to his natural position of safety could help him become a bigger part of the defense again. We've seen Reid be in position many times and just flat out miss the tackle or fail to even attempt it. Put Sanker in that role and bank on youth.
It's a position Sanker could be special at, and he won't be special in the role they're currently using him. It could also give the defense a boost in aggressiveness and tackling. Sanker would replace Reid, and the Saints could use Quincy Riley to replace Sanker.
Martin Emerson has taken the outside corner role from Riley, and putting him in the slot keeps the young player on the field. He was one of the potential candidates for this role before Sanker, and shuffling up the secondary could be a change they need.
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