The New Orleans Saints have pulled off two trades in the last week, and now they're going for the hat trick. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported the Saints are among three teams making calls about running backs.
With roster cuts mere days away, pursuing a trade instead of waiting for cuts to happen shows an aggressive mindset. A trade gives you the obvious control to pick your player, but it also suggests the Saints feel like they need to upgrade at running back, opposed to wanting to improve but accepting what you have.
It's doubtful the trade would resemble the Khalen Saunders trade between two players who may not make the roster. It's more likely to be a move that involves draft capital, like their trade for Devaughn Vele. This isn't an acquisition they should rush though.
Saints should wait until after the final preseason game to trade for a running back
As it currently stands, the Saints have Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Devin Neal, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Cam Akers and Velus Jones Jr. in their running back room. It depends on how big of a name the Saints grab, but odds are the Saints will be searching for a player to slot in behind Kamara and Miller.
If this is their intention, they should wait until after the game to make any final decisions. Continue to make calls and inquire but they should avoid finalizing a trade until after the game.
If Devin Neal wasn't just returning from injury, the conversation would be different. Edwards-Helaire and Akers haven't done enough in the preseason to demand patience. With Neal, however, you have a young player who hasn't been given the chance to show what he can do.
Waiting until after the final preseason game gives you an opportunity to evaluate Neal, like you've evaluated Edwards-Helaire and Akers. Neal has always been touted as a player who can immediately help boost the run game. Jumping to trade for a running back likely ends his chances of making the 53 man roster.