The New Orleans Saints have addressed one of their glaring weaknesses just a day before the NFL Trade Deadline. The Saints acquire Kwon Alexander, outside linebacker, from the San Francisco 49ers. In return, the Saints sent Kiko Alonso and a conditional fifth-round draft pick to the 49ers. Alexander will be expected to help improve a 19th ranked Saints defense going into the second half of the 2020 season.
Along with a conditional 5th rounder, that completes the trade. https://t.co/ZuE3oVt6c7
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 2, 2020
New Orleans Saints Acquire Kwon Alexander
Before the season started, the New Orleans Saints already had the worst corp of linebackers in the NFC South. Demario Davis has been a consistent force for the Saints but he has had very little help so far in 2020. Out of the Saints top 15 tacklers in 2020, only two of these are part of the Linebacker corp. Alex Anzalone has had a serviceable season but the Saints need more from a defense on the outside. The Saints have already allowed 19 touchdown passes and have the worst red-zone defense in the entire NFL.
Kwon Alexander is no stranger to the NFC South. He spent his first four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2015-2018. Alexander made the pro bowl in 2017. Injury issues have been an issue for Alexander. He last played a full season in 2016. Alexander appeared in eight games in 2019 and six games in 2018. This season, Alexander has already missed time and hasn’t played since October 11 due to a high-ankle sprain. In the seasons where he played 12 or more games, Alexander was near or over 100 tackles for the season.
The New Orleans Saints obviously acquired Alexander in hopes that he can get back to his 2016 and 2017 form. The Saints are still trying to build towards a Super Bowl. The Saints acquired Alexander to help bolster these hopes. With another day before the trade deadline, the Saints could be shopping more. If the only addition the Saints have is Alexander, this could still be a win for the maligned defense for the rest of the 2020 season.
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