The New Orleans Saints could use another wide receiver, and beat reporter Nick Underhill believes the team should trade for Hunter Renfrow to fill the void in the slot. Renfrow, of course, has previously found success with Derek Carr, but could the two team up in the Big Easy?
Note: Underhill’s article is behind a paywall, so in order to respect his website, I will not be pulling quotes from his writing.
Underhill: Saints Could Pursue A Hunter Renfrow Trade
Does A Hunter Renfrow Trade Make Sense?
Right off the bat, a Hunter Renfrow trade appears to make sense for all interested parties. From the Saints standpoint, the team could use a slot receiver to replace the departed Jarvis Landry. Wide receivers Chris Olave and Michael Thomas can both line up on the outside and adding Renfrow to the slot will give New Orleans three reliable targets on every single passing play. There is no such thing as too many reliable pass-catchers in today’s day and age, so that alone should be enough to justify some interest.
Additionally, there is no overstating the importance of Renfrow’s history with Derek Carr. Even under the best of circumstances, adjusting to a new NFL team is never easy. This is especially true for someone like Carr, a player that spent the past nine years with one organization. While Dennis Allen and Foster Moreau will help him adjust to New Orleans, Renfrow’s ability to quickly get open and serve as a safe checkdown option could be vital when Carr needs to adjust a play at the line of scrimmage.
Derek Carr and Hunter Renfrow have that red zone chemistry 🎯
📺: #DENvsLV on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/GsJHOT1sDQ— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2021
Of course, a Hunter Renfrow trade needs to make sense for both sides if it is to ever come to fruition. Fortunately, the Raiders have 11.29 million reasons to send the slot receiver to a new home. Renfrow carries a $13.13 million cap hit in 2023, but the cash-strapped Raiders can clear $11.29 million by trading him with a post-June 1st designation. On top of that, Renfrow’s skill set is a little redundant with Jakobi Meyers already on the roster.
The Saints Ceiling With Renfrow
As it is, the New Orleans Saints have one of the easiest schedules in football and possess the talent to take advantage of favorable matchups. The PFF Game Simulator believes in the Saints, and the sky is the limit if this talented team adds yet another solid weapon to the passing game.
Even without Renfrow, the Saints should be favorites to win the NFC South. However, with him, they could be in contention for the first seed in the NFC. This isn’t to say they’re better than the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, but the difference in talent between the two rosters could be offset by the Saints considerably easier schedule.
Based on talent alone, however, there is a strong case to be made that New Orleans could be the third-best team in the conference after a Hunter Renfrow trade. Philadelphia and San Francisco are in a tier of their own, but the Saints should be right there with the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings. With a reliable quarterback, three dependable wide receivers, and an opportunistic defense, the Saints are set to make their deepest playoff push since the Drew Brees Era.
Main Photo: Gary Vasquez – USA Today Sports
