New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sproles (43) runs the football against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of the 2013 NFC divisional playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The New Orleans Saints are still looking to trade all-purpose back Darren Sproles, and it was reported on Friday that the Saints would either trade or release him. It looks like Sproles will depart today, as the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Saints are getting ready to release him before the start of free agency at 4 p.m. ET. But Rapoport also reports that they are still hoping that they will be able to trade him, and it’s still possible for there to be suitors. He isn’t expected to be traded and will likely be signed shortly after his release, but it’s definitely interesting to note that Rapoport reports that “more than” ten teams will be interested in Sproles if he becomes a free agent.
So while Sproles’s trade interest in limited (his $3.5 million salary on a one-year rental deal doesn’t help), it’s not surprising to hear that many teams would go after him if he hits the free agent market. Not only would a team get to negotiate a new contract with him, but they wouldn’t have to give up a draft pick for a 30-year-old running back who isn’t a feature back.
Sproles could make sense for a top team like the Denver Broncos, as there are no shortage of teams that could potentially be interested in adding an RB who can catch over 70 passes in a season. Even though he’s old, Sproles is still a playmaker, and running backs with his pass-catching and pass blocking ability deserve to be coveted highly. I doubt any of those teams feels pressured into making a deal, but news regarding a potential trade is worth watching, with news of suitors and a potential deal worth watching the closest.