The New Orleans Saints appear to be completely clearing house on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. After sending shockwaves around the league by trading Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks, the Saints have released Pierre Thomas and now traded Kenny Stills.
Pro Football Talk reports that Stills will be sent to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for linebacker Dannell Ellerby and a third-round draft pick.
Stills was one of the most efficient wide receivers in the NFL last season. He was fourth in the league among receivers with a 78.8 percent catch rate and quickly emerged as one of Drew Brees’ favorite targets after rookie Brandin Cooks went down with an injury.
While ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted earlier this week that the Saints are shopping everyone but Brees and Cooks, you have to wonder what the end game is here. The team has unloaded two of Brees’ favorite targets, and the 36-year-old carries a salary cap hit of $26.4 million dollars in 2015. With the Saints completely retooling on offense, you have to wonder when they will decide they are paying far too much for a quarterback who likely has only a few good years left.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said after trading Graham that the team is looking to use resources to improve its defense. With New Orleans having acquired a first-round pick, a third-round pick, Ellerby and a new starting cornerback, it seems as if Loomis is telling the truth. Brees is likely going to have a to find a new home by 2016 or restructure his contract in some way.
