The Saints have been willing to part ways with numerous higher-priced veterans this offseason.
And now, a published report says they are willing to deal one of their cheaper and younger players, too.
Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 in Washington D.C. reports the Saints are “trying to trade” third-year wide receiver Kenny Stills.
Stills hauled in 63 passes for 931 yards and three touchdowns in 2014. He does not turn 23 until April, and he is under contract for two more seasons at very affordable base salaries ($585,000 in 2015, $675,000 in 2016, per NFLPA data).
Theoretically, those attributes would suggest Stills would have a market if the Saints wanted to deal him.
The question is, why would they?
Stills’ contract alone would seemingly make him valuable to New Orleans. The club has had salary cap issues, and here is a starter-caliber player on the books for less than a combined $1.3 million over the next two years.
Nevertheless, Russini reports the Saints have been “shopping” Stills.
Of all of the offseason stories about players on the trading block, this is one of the most surprising, for it’s an inexpensive player reportedly being dangled, not an older brand name with a sticker-shock contract.