5 trades to shake up the 2023 NFL season
By Randy Gurzi
4. Trey Lance to the New Orleans Saints
When the 49ers lost Trey Lance in Week 1, they were thankful Jimmy Garoppolo was there to keep the train from falling off the rails. But then when he went down and Brock Purdy entered, the expectations shifted.
The idea now was for Purdy to simply lead a run-first offense and hope the 49ers defense kept them in games. While the defense and run game have done their part, no one expected Purdy to improve the passing game as well.
He was 5-0 as a starter in the regular season with a 13-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He led them to five games with at least 30 points, then was able to throw three touchdowns in his postseason debut, leading the franchise to a 41-23 win over Seattle.
If Kyle Shanahan believes this success is sustainable, they could look to deal their first-round pick from 2020. If so, the New Orleans Saints would be one of the teams that should look to pull the trigger on a trade.
New Orleans was 7-10 this season with Andy Dalton as their primary starter. Dalton is a 12-year veteran and won’t be the reason his team loses very often, but he also can’t take them to the next level. Lance, on the other hand, could do that.
His ability to threaten defenses with the deep ball while also having the mobility to take off with the ball would open up the entire playbook for the Saints. It would also make them instant favorites in the NFC South.