Tag: Kwon Alexander

Saints don’t see Kwon Alexander playing vs. Bucs, but Sean Payton likes his new LB

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton doesn’t anticipate linebacker Kwon Alexander playing against his old team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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The NFL’s COVID-19 protocols for the 2020 season mandate that players joining new teams — either via trade or signing as a free agent — pass through several days of coronavirus testing before they are cleared to get to work at the team facility.

That extends to New Orleans Saints linebacker Kwon Alexander, acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. Alexander entered the NFL as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft pick, but he won’t get a chance to face his old team this season. The earliest he could possibly suit up for the Saints would be in Sunday’s matchup at Tampa Bay, but he wouldn’t have taken a single step on the Saints practice field before doing so.

Saints coach Sean Payton outlined the vision for working Alexander into the mix, saying in a recent media conference call: “I think we go through five days onboarding. Our plan is it would be difficult for him to be available in this next game, but the following week, would be a goal.”

As luck would have it, the Saints are playing Alexander’s other former team in Week 10: the 49ers. So he could get an opportunity to showcase his talents against an offense he knows well.

But what exactly does Alexander bring to the table? He’s been well-regarded for his knack for pass defense, consistently doing a great job of not being fooled by play-action diversions and complex route concepts. But Payton sees a more well-rounded player than that.

“It also gives us another athletic player at that position that can run,” Payton continued. “Well he does a lot of things well. He’s smart, he’s instinctive, he’s a run and hit player that has very good speed and instincts. No, I wouldn’t just say that (he’s more of a cover linebacker). I think he’s very good in coverage, but he’s also very good in defending the run game.”

So be patient, Saints fans. It might take some time before Alexander gets on the field, but the coaches are clearly excited to work with him.

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2021 NFL Draft: Updated future Saints picks after trade deadline

For now, the New Orleans Saints are projected to own a pick in each round of the 2021 NFL Draft after trading for Niners LB Kwon Alexander.

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Well that was a dud. The 2020 NFL trade deadline passed by so quietly that it was hardly noticed, if you weren’t paying attention. Like most of the league, the New Orleans Saints filed their moves with the NFL office well ahead of the cutoff date, having worked out a trade for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander.

So now we know exactly what sort of draft resources New Orleans will carry into 2021. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that the Saints included a conditional fifth-round draft pick in their trade package for Alexander (along with backup linebacker Kiko Alonso, returning from a 2019 season-ending injury).

And the conditions for that pick are interesting: if Alexander meets enough play-time incentives, the Saints will send their 2021 fifth rounder to San Francisco. But if Alexander does not get on the field often enough, either due to his recent high-ankle sprain, simply taking longer to pick up the system, or some other factor, then the 49ers will have to wait until 2022 to receive New Orleans’ fifth-round pick.

It’s a little more complicated than your standard pick-swap conditions, but not ridiculously so. Certainly not as contrived as what the New Orleans Pelicans will be receiving from the Los Angeles Lakers over the next half-decade.

Anyway: here are all of the 2021 draft picks the Saints are scheduled to make after the Alexander trade, as well as their draft-day maneuvering in 2020 and with projected compensatory selections:

  • Round 1 (own)
  • Round 2 (own)
  • Round 3 (compensatory for losing Teddy Bridgewater)
  • Round 4 (own)
  • Round 5 (conditional, could revert to 2022)
  • Round 6 (compensatory for losing A.J. Klein)
  • Round 7 (own)

To recap on a few of the picks traded earlier this year, the Saints swapped out their own third- and sixth-rounders in 2021 so they could move up the board in the 2020 draft. The rookies acquired in those moves were linebacker Zack Baun and quarterback-turned-tight end Tommy Stevens.

Additionally, the compensatory picks projected to New Orleans after Bridgewater and Klein signed with new teams in free agency are just that: projections. We won’t know for certain whether the NFL is awarding those selections until they are announced in the spring, so don’t get too attached to the idea of the Saints owning a selection in each round for once.

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Kwon Alexander leads the NFL in missed tackles since 2015

The New Orleans Saints may be tempering expectations for Kwon Alexander, who has missed more tackles than anyone else since entering the NFL

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The assets that Kwon Alexander brings to the New Orleans Saints defense are clear: his combination of football smarts and athleticism result in a linebacker who can rapidly read and react to plays as they develop, putting him in position to make a play.

But there’s a catch, beyond his extensive injury history. Pro Football Focus has dinged Alexander with more missed tackles than any other player since he entered the league (89), which looks even worse considering he’s missed 35 games during that timespan. Like most players, he’s flawed. It’s why he was available in a trade in the first place.

So let this stat reset your expectations a bit. Alexander can still be a productive player, especially for a mostly-bad Saints defense, and his presence as a true middle linebacker should move Demario Davis back to his natural weakside alignment, where he won All-Pro recognition last year.

On the occasions when he does miss a tackle, just doing enough to disrupt the offense and slow down the ball-carrier could help teammates rally to force a stop. The Saints have played with poor eye discipline far too often, making them vulnerable to bootleg plays and allowing tight ends to run untouched through their zone coverage for easy completions. Those are areas where just having someone with Alexander’s wheels and intelligence can make a difference.

And maybe he can clean up his act in this area. Davis missed 14 tackles in 2018, his first year with the Saints (having averaged 12.3 misses in his previous three years with the Browns and Jets), but more time in their system and work with their coaches helped him cut that number down to just 6 missed tackles in 2019. He’s already missed 6 times in 2020, but that’s after being moved back to the middle spot.

If Alexander’s addition pushes Davis back to an area of strength — where he has shown a better knack for reading his offensive line keys and taking more efficient angles to the ball — then he should be expected to become an impact player again. And the Saints should be able to work with Alexander on his tackling just like they’ve done with Davis and their other players.

And, hey. A big part of the problem was that Alexander had to try and tackle opponents like Alvin Kamara so often in the NFC South (for his part, Kamara is keeping Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians on his toes). He and Kamara are now wearing the same uniform, so maybe that alone should help him see more favorable matchups.

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49ers G.M. John Lynch issues statement on trading Kwon Alexander to Saints

The New Orleans Saints traded for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander, who 49ers general manager John Lynch described as a leader.

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The New Orleans Saints made their first and maybe only move ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 3 by acquiring San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander, who should add a ton of athleticism and starting experience to their defense.

And according to 49ers general manager John Lynch, Alexander is also bringing an impressive strength of character and leadership qualities with him.

“Kwon’s time with our team might not have been long but it was very impactful,” Lynch said in a statement from the team. “A tremendous teammate, his non-stop motor, ferocious play and selfless nature helped establish a standard for our locker room that will carry on. On behalf of the entire organization, I want to wish Kwon all the best and think him for all of his contributions to our team.”

It’s quite an endorsement, but it was well-earned. Alexander played a critical role in changing the 49ers defense’s mindset on defense, and he remains popular with the coaching staff despite the time he’s missed with injuries. Maybe he can pull a similar move with helping the Saints defenders get their swagger back.

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NFC South Week 8 review: Saints keep pace with Bucs, add Kwon Alexander

Let’s catch up on what happened around the NFC South in Week 8.

The NFC South has become a two-team race. While the Panthers have a lot of moxy and the Falcons remain talented offensively, it’s clear that it will either be the Buccaneers or the Saints winning the division this season.

Let’s catch up on what happened around the NFC South in Week 8.

Buccaneers (6-2) beat Giants (1-7), 25-23 

True contenders have to be able to win ugly. Tampa checked that box this week. Despite a bad start against the lowly Giants, the Bucs rallied back on Monday Night Football at MetLife Stadium to improve to 3-2 on the road this year. Tom Brady threw two more touchdown passes, one each to Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans.

Brady now has a 20/4 touchdown/interception ratio for the season.

Meanwhile, Tampa’s ferocious defense totaled five tackles for a loss, 10 quarterback hits, two interceptions and three sacks on Daniel Jones. Next up, they have a huge showdown with the Saints on Sunday Night Football.

Saints (5-2) beat Bears (5-3), 26-23

Remember, New Orleans actually beat the Bucs in Week 1 and they’re only technically in second place because of an early bye. The Saints still look vulnerable, though. It took overtime to beat the overrated Bears this week and they’re still without star wide receiver Michael Thomas. Maybe that’s part of the reason they traded for 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander, who could add a critical element to their defense if they can fix his issues. Pairing him with Demario Davis can help the Saints keep pace with the Bucs, who now have the league’s top linebacker duo. Alexander would have been a good target for the Panthers, as would have Avery Williamson of the Jets, but he’s been dealt to the Steelers.

Panthers (3-5) lost to Falcons (2-6), 25-17

A trade in the next few hours could dramatically change the outlook for the second half of the season – especially if general manager Marty Hurney can swing a deal for a defensive playmaker with a talent for forcing turnovers. It’s starting to look unlikely, though as several of their best potential options have already been traded. If this is the roster they want to roll with for the rest of 2020, Sunday’s game against the Chiefs will give the front office a good idea of where they stand compared to the NFL’s most-loaded team.

Falcons (2-6) not dealing stars

Given how this season has gone so far, you could make a case for the Falcons to continue the rebuilding that began by firing Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff and start trading away their star players. Atlanta is resisting that idea, though. Reports indicate that the Falcons will not be trading Matt Ryan or Julio Jones, who posted 137 yards on seven catches Thursday night and turned Donte Jackson into a meme.

This is probably the right idea. With a (much, much, much) improved defensive unit, the Falcons could still be a contender before the Ryan/Jones window closes. Next up, they’ll host the Broncos.

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Saints are $101M over projected 2021 salary cap, which isn’t as bad as it looks

The New Orleans Saints acquired Pro Bowl LB Kwon Alexander in a trade with the 49ers, making their 2021 salary cap outlook more complex.

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The decision to acquire San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander on the eve of the NFL trade deadline has put the New Orleans Saints past another salary cap milestone. They’re now counting more than $276 million on the books for 2021, when the salary cap is projected to be $175 million. That’s going to result in many, many difficult decisions for New Orleans.

They were already flirting with unprecedented territory before trading for Alexander; but now his $13.4 million salary cap hit is on the books. But as large as that mountain appears to be at first blush, the climb to the summit isn’t nearly as difficult as many fear.

For starters, Alexander’s 2021 cap hit is not guaranteed, so the Saints can release him after this season without any financial penalty (but a big pay cut is much more likely, if he proves he can get healthy and help them win games in 2020). That puts New Orleans right back where it started, with San Francisco being the only team involved in this deal to walk away with any dead money.

There are other moves to be made that can lower that salary cap. If Drew Brees retires as anticipated, the Saints will recoup $13.5 million in 2021. Nearly $27.8 million can be freed up between restructures for Terron Armstead, Cameron Jordan, and Michael Thomas (though trading Thomas, as some have speculated, would result in an additional $1.2 million paid out against the cap).

Ryan Ramczyk and Marshon Lattimore are set to earn a combined $21.2 million while playing on their fifth-year options, so signing either of them (or both of them) to a multiyear contract extension would create plenty of breathing room. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football explored more potential offseason moves in greater depth, which you can read here.

If the Saints can complete just the salary cap accounting deals mentioned above, they’ll be resting right around $203 million against the 2021 salary cap. That’s still over the projected limit, but it’s significantly more manageable. It serves to illustrate why all of the handwringing over salary cap calculations is so overrated.

So sure, the Saints have plenty of work to do in the months ahead. But they’ve overcome these kind of obstacles before, and there’s reason to believe they can continue to field a competitive team after doing so again. Finding a worthy successor to Brees remains the biggest challenge ahead of them, even moreso than this bean counting.

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7 quick facts to know about new Saints linebacker Kwon Alexander

The New Orleans Saints traded for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander, a 2017 Pro Bowl starter and former LSU Tigers standout.

The New Orleans Saints completed a trade with the San Francisco 49ers to acquire 26-year old linebacker Kwon Alexander, trading out 30-year old backup Kiko Alonso in the process. It could be a big move for a Saints defense that hasn’t played up to its usual standards in 2020 despite their 5-2 start and 4-game winning streak. Here’s what you need to know about the Pro Bowler:

Panthers’ options disappearing fast during busy 2020 NFL trade deadline

Initially, we laid out six potential trade targets for the Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers – for all their faults – have been competitive in every game they’ve played this season. If they can get healthy and their luck improves, there’s still an outside chance they could compete for a wild card spot in December.

They’ll have to make some changes to get there, though. First priority right now should be adding a defensive playmaker who can help make up for the group’s inexperience and lack of depth. Their options are dwindling fast, though. Teams have already made multiple deals over the last couple of days, with several coming in the last couple of hours.

Initially, we laid out six potential trade targets for the Panthers:

Eagles TE Zach Ertz
Jets DL Quinnen Williams
49ers LB Kwon Alexander
Cowboys DE Everson Griffen
Jets LB Avery Williamson
Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore

Several of these options (plus DB Desmond King) are already off the table. San Francisco just traded Alexander to the Saints, giving Demario Davis the partner he needed in the middle of a floundering New Orleans defense. Williamson is also no longer an option. On Sunday night the Jets dealt him and a seventh-round pick to the Steelers for just a fifth-rounder in return. On Friday, Griffen was dealt to the Lions for a conditional sixth-rounder.

Ertz is still technically a possibility, but he’s out with a high-ankle sprain and won’t be back for several more weeks. The Eagles were reportedly open to dealing him before the injury, though. As for Gilmore and the Patriots, they are reportedly not interested in being sellers.

For what it’s worth, Williams would still make an excellent addition to this Carolina team, significantly improving their run defense and pass rush at the same time. He is just 23 years old and has two more seasons on his contract after this one.

The trade deadline is at 4:00 p.m. ET tomorrow.

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Saints include linebacker Kiko Alonso in Kwon Alexander trade package

Alonso suffered an ACL tear back in January’s playoffs loss to the Minnesota Vikings, which kept him sidelined throughout training camp.

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The New Orleans Saints made a move near the NFL trade deadline by picking up San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander, and now we know what they gave up to acquire him: a conditional fifth-round draft pick and one of their own linebackers, Kiko Alonso.

Alonso suffered an ACL tear back in January’s playoffs loss to the Minnesota Vikings, which kept him sidelined throughout training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He was recently activated from the PUP list and returned to practice, though he wasn’t yet cleared to suit up for a game.

Alexander has been dealing with an injury, too. He was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain earlier this season and missed the last three games while recovering from it, though he was limited in 49ers practice last week. He’s a long shot to play in Week 9’s Sunday night matchup against his old Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad (due as much to that injury as COVID-19 testing restrictions), but expect him to push for a starting gig later this year.

In the end, the Saints swapped a selection on the final day of a future draft for a starting-quality linebacker, giving up a backup who hadn’t taken a snap for them yet in 2020. While the Saints are due to pay Alexander about $3 million in salary cap accounting for the rest of the year, the $900,000 or so in savings they’ve created by moving Alonso mean the final tally for the move is only around $2 million and some change. That’s a price worth paying for a Pro Bowl quality player.

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49ers trade linebacker Kwon Alexander to the Saints

The San Francisco 49ers traded Kwon Alexander to the Saints.

The trade carousel is spinning as the deadline approaches Tuesday.

The San Francisco 49ers traded one of the mainstays of their defense, LB Kwon Alexander, to the New Orleans Saints.

Alexander was regarded as one of the bigger parts of the defense as the Niners made it to the Super Bowl.

In another deal, the Chargers dealt Desmond King to the Tennessee Titans.