After landing a new quarterback in free agency and several intriguing rookies in the 2023 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints are focused on getting ready for the upcoming season. However, just because most of the team-building process is complete doesn’t mean that we won’t see one or two interesting transactions in the coming months. According to David Kenyon of Bleacher Report, one such move could involve the Saints cutting wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith.
Bleacher Report: Saints Could Cut Tre’Quan Smith
Why This Could Happen
As is the case for most of the players on Kenyon’s list, Tre’Quan Smith simply hasn’t played particularly well over the past few seasons. While the NFL analyst notes that Smith has been a “steady presence” as a depth receiver in New Orleans, he ultimately isn’t anything more than a backup-caliber player.
Since entering the league back in 2018, Smith has yet to record more than 34 receptions in a single season, and he hasn’t even done that since the 2020 season. 2020, of course, was the final year of the Drew Brees Era, and Smith’s inability to step up with Michael Thomas sidelined proved to be a major issue for the offense.
Kenyon goes on to note that Smith’s fate could be decided by the remaining depth on the roster, saying that “if the Saints are comfortable with A.T. Perry and Bryan Edwards behind the starters, Smith may be edged out.”
Needless to say, Kenyon covered all 32 teams in his article, so he didn’t have time to fully analyze the New Orleans Saints depth chart and see if Tre’Quan Smith will survive. So, let’s do that now and see if this could be the end of his time in New Orleans.
Is Tre’Quan Smith Out of Time in New Orleans?
As things currently stand, the Saints wide receiver room is something of a giant question mark. On paper, this unit has the potential to be one of the best in the league. Chris Olave is already a star in the making, and we know just how dangerous a healthy version of Michael Thomas can be. On top of that, Rashid Shaheed showed some real potential in 2022 and could develop into a reliable deep threat if he can build on his rookie campaign.
Could watch Rashid Shaheed highlights all day pic.twitter.com/MnRsEunTOH
— Fantasy Football Today (@FFToday) May 17, 2023
However, that is a best-case scenario, and there is a wide range of outcomes for this group. Olave’s about as safe as they come, but Thomas hasn’t played a full season of football since 2019. Nobody knows how much is actually left in his tank, or if he can actually stay healthy in 2023.
Shaheed, meanwhile, played well in small doses but has an uphill battle to relevance. Historically speaking, undrafted free agents or late-round picks like him don’t have the best track record. Robert Foster, Travis Fulgham, and Preston Williams, just to name a few, have all had similar promising rookie seasons before ultimately flaming out. Perhaps Shaheed is the exception to the rule, but the Saints shouldn’t bet on it.
In today’s pass-happy NFL, you can never have too many good receivers. Tre’Quan Smith might not be a starter, but he’s a good third or fourth option on the depth chart. Unless A.T. Perry sets the world on fire in training camp and the preseason, New Orleans should probably hold on to Smith for at least one more season.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
