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NYners's avatar

Had me until you threw in Hyder. That changes it from 2 steps forward to 2 steps forward and 1 back for me. Like the thought otherwise though.

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Sir Lancelot's avatar

I dont think they'd do it with out him. I think we can survive a couple weeks with Davenport + Dion jordan and Willis, at least til Blair gets back

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Everyglenn17's avatar

Davenport would be a good get. Pettis might be good as a Saint.

I can't imagine they'd trade him though. When is Cam Jordan's contract up? Maybe they release him to keep Davenport.

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Sir Lancelot's avatar

Hes a FA in 2023 and I dont think the Saints are going to release their most consistent pass rusher

And they won't bench Hendrickson either.. most teams wouldn't trade davenport but NO is in peculiar position

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Everyglenn17's avatar

I'd be happy to get him, but even with their current situation it just seems unlikely that they would trade him for less than a 1 or 2+player.

I've never heard a team complain about having too many good edge rushers, and even keeping him as a #3 edge for 2 years of a rookie salary and getting a high comp if you you do have to let him go (which 2 years down the road might not be the case) sounds significantly better than a 3rd+ok player now. They also traded up a 1st to get him, which to me suggests a level of investment they won't let go so easily.

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Sir Lancelot's avatar

The thing is, Saints can "technically" use the 5th year option but they really cant with Davenport, both due to production not being up to a top 20 guy and also because they cant afford it. So next season is their last - and basically they can't keep him at all. Nobody is going to pay Davenport a lot, so they wont get more than a compensatory 5th, maaaaaybe a 4th - not because Davenport is bad but because he has not had big production.

The 49ers are betting that their 3rd round pick + player is better than the compensatory pick + Davenport's production right now, which I think is a fair assessment because Hyder is playing great.

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Christopher Burns's avatar

How do you clear $78m in cap space (more actually, because they'll have a draft class to pay)? Is this their "win now" window, and they'll go into full blown yard sale mode in the offseason? I can't imagine Brees plays another year on a talent gutted team, so that takes care of some of it.

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Sir Lancelot's avatar

Nail on the head - they went completely all in this season and i don't think it will work out, ironically because of Brees' regression. And yeah, I think they've basically planned that Brees will retire which saves them quite a bit of money but still not even close to what they need.

They will go into yardsale mode in all likelihood. They've already shopped Michael Thomas if rumors are true, and with having to extend Marshon lattimore and Marcus williams soon - those guys will also likely be available too.

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Christopher Burns's avatar

It's too bad we won't be "buyers" because there should be a lot of good players hitting the FA/trade market this year.

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