Saints land former first round WR from the AFC for two draft picks in trade proposal

When Kellen Moore took over the New Orleans Saints head coaching job last season, he knew he had a fairly significant rebuild ahead of him. 

Moore’s first task was identifying which of the two young quarterbacks was capable enough to build around for the future, and by the end of the season, the answer was clear. 

Spencer Rattler started the first eight games and had a (1-7) record before getting benched for Tyler Shough in Week 9. Shough was far from perfect, but showed enough promise for Moore and the staff to enter 2026 with him as the starting QB. 

The rookie went (5-4) in his nine starts, which included a four-game win streak knocking off the Bucs, Panthers, Jets and Titans before barely falling to the Falcons 19-17 in the season finale. 

Shough threw for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions and had a QB rating of 91.3. He added an extra element to the Saints offense with his legs too, picking up 186 yards and three touchdowns on 46 carries. 

The New Orleans Saints have approached this offseason with a strategy that looks like they believe they can win now if they put the right pieces around their young QB. They signed RB Travis Etienne to a 4-year deal worth $52 million. Etienne can split time in the backfield with Alvin Kamara, giving the Saints an elite running back duo. 

They also inked one of the best guards available, signing David Edward’s to a 4-year deal worth $61 million. Edwards gives them much-needed stability on the offensive line. Finally, the Saints added tight end Noah Fant to give Shough another weapon in the passing game. 

There are still fairly significant holes on defense, but it seems like the Saints brass is focused on getting weapons around their second-year QB and hoping that unit can keep their defense off the field in 2026. 

Saints land former first round WR Quentin Johnson in exchange for draft picks in trade proposal

While Chris Olave has proven himself as an upper-tier WR for the Saints since getting drafted out of Ohio State, they don’t have anyone on the other side since trading Rasheed Shaheed to the Seahawks during last season. 

Ralph Vacciano of FOX Sports predicts the Saints will trade a 2026 third-round pick (73rd), and 2027 conditional sixth-round pick for Chargers WR Quentin Johnson. 

The 6-3, 208-pounder arrived with huge expectations after being the 21st overall pick in the 2023 draft, but he’s struggled to live up to them and has seemingly maxed out as a 50-catch, 700-yard, No. 2 receiver. Johnston was drafted by a different Chargers regime, so the current one should be willing to move on from an underperforming player. But the Saints could see value in adding a big target next to Chris Olave for their emerging quarterback. And their third-round pick could be enough to convince Jim Harbaugh to give up on him, since it would be relatively high in that round.

Johnson hasn’t been the dominant force the Chargers thought they were getting when they drafted him, but he’s put up back-to-back seasons with more than 700 receiving yards and at least eight touchdowns. That’s exactly the kind of player that would compliment Olave and help the Saints offense reach a new level. 

More Saints news:

• The Marshon Lattimore trade has aged incredibly well for Saints
• Alvin Kamara might retire if trade rumors with Saints come true
• Spencer Rattler could be traded during 2026 NFL Draft
• Ruben Bain Jr. named perfect draft pick for Saints with eighth pick
• Chris Olave and the Saints are in extension talks this offseason
• Saints might use both Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne Jr. in 2026