There are plenty of reasons for New Orleans Saints fans to be concerned about the upcoming season. The team's second-round pick failed to win the starting quarterback job, a star defender shockingly retired, and the receiver group has arguably become the weakest in the division.
The Saints tried to fix one of those problems, claiming former Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer off waivers. Palmer should be a contributor for New Orleans this season, but he's not enough to fix their issues.
The Buccaneers clearly weren't satisfied with him. They hit their receiver room hard this offseason, drafting Emeka Egbuka in the first round and Tez Johnson in the seventh. After ending the 2024 season with the chance to become Tampa Bay's third receiver, Palmer suddenly dropped to the bottom of the depth chart. The Bucs waived him on Tuesday, and the Saints were quick to take their chances with him.
Saints add Trey Palmer in attempt to address WR need
Palmer was one of the top prizes on the waiver wire. He was a sixth-round pick in 2023, but quickly carved out a role in Tampa Bay's offense. As a rookie, he caught 39 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns. With blazing speed and a large frame, he had the potential to become a true deep threat in the NFL.
General manager Mickey Loomis clearly knows that the receiver group isn't as strong as it needs to be. He traded for Devaughn Vele just weeks before the start of the season, and he's doubled down by adding Palmer.
Alongside Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks, the two additions make up a decent group of pass catchers. But it's far from being enough to support Spencer Rattler. Palmer and Shaheed overlap almost completely in their skill sets. Outside of his deep threat ability, the former Bucs wideout doesn't offer much. He's not a refined route runner or an impactful run blocker. Unless Shaheed goes down with an injury, there isn't a clear role for Palmer in this offense.
Even if he doesn't contribute much this year, Palmer is worth taking a flyer on. He has the size and athleticism to be successful in the NFL, even if he can't make an immediate impact. But this move shouldn't be enough to ease Saints fans' worries about the offense this year. Unless Rattler takes a big step forward, it could be a long season.