Two key Saints defenders viewed as trade candidates

A number of New Orleans players have been named as ones to watch on the trade front. The likes of running back Alvin Kamara and receiver Chris Olave hope to stay in place, but other moves could be made shortly. One or more of the franchise’s most well-known defenders could find themselves changing teams in the near future.

Sources contacted by CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones “could see” Cameron Jordan and/or Demario Davis being traded prior to the deadline. Other defensive ends (such as Carl Granderson) and linebackers (including Pete Werner) are known to be on the radar of interested teams. Those positions could see changes shortly as a result, although it would certainly come as a surprise to see either of Jordan or Davis playing elsewhere to close out their decorated careers.

Jordan has spent his entire NFL tenure in New Orleans, and he is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played. The eight-time Pro Bowler remained with the Saints this offseason on a restructured deal. His base salary for 2025 is just $1.26M as a result, although the inclusion of void years would lead to dead money hits for the team in the event of a trade (or the lack of a re-signing prior to the new league year, for that matter). Jordan, 36, has posted 2.5 sacks this season while logging a 66% snap share.

Davis began his career with the Jets and Browns before arriving in New Orleans in 2018. Since then, he has established himself as one of the league’s best defensive players and recorded a first- or second-team All-Pro nod during a run of five straight years. Davis has recorded triple-digit tackles every season since 2017 and he is comfortably on track to do so again in 2025. The 36-year-old is attached to a $6.5MM base salary for this season, and he too is a pending free agent.

Jones adds, to no surprise, any trade involving Jordan or Davis would see them moved to a contending team. He names the 49ers as a logical landing spot in both cases based on the injuries suffered by Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. San Francisco has not been linked to any of New Orleans’ trade chips, but it will be interesting to see if that happens between now and Nov. 4.