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Well that’s newsworthy. It’s been an open secret that the New Orleans Saints have turned over every stone they could get their hands on to look for help at cornerback this offseason, dating back to fruitless efforts in the early days of free agency and bold trade maneuvering during the 2021 NFL draft. They’ve cycled through a small crowd of bottom-feeding free agents early in training camp to no avail.
Still, it’s surprising to see a specific name connected to them. The Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Jeff Duncan reported Monday that the Saints are looking for trade partners across the league, including the Jacksonville Jaguars — targeting C.J. Henderson, their first round pick in the 2020 draft.
Henderson was selected ninth overall but appeared in just eight games as a rookie due to various injuries, with a groin muscle injury cutting his first year in the NFL short. He also had labrum surgery this summer and missed time in training camp on the COVID-19 reserve list. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently reported that multiple league executives believe the Jaguars have made Henderson available, though Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed adds that Jacksonville’s new Urban Meyer-Trent Baalke braintrust would be willing to unload Henderson “if they can get a haul.”
What that means is anyone’s guess. It could mean New Orleans’ first round pick in 2022. Maybe it means a franchise player like disgruntled wide receiver Michael Thomas, an old favorite of Meyer’s from their days together at Ohio State. But given the Jaguars’ investments at wideout and the $22.5 million in dead money that would fall on New Orleans’ books (doubling their current free cap space), that’s a hard sell. Jacksonville would have to throw some draft picks of their own into the mix to even the scales.
It’s very much a developing situation for, well, everyone. Keep an eye out for updates.
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