The New Orleans Saints tried to trade up to draft cornerback Marcus Peters, but the deal fell through
What if I told you the New Orleans Saints nearly traded up to No. 18 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft with the intentions of drafting cornerback Marcus Peters …
The scenario fell to the Saints’ “30 for 30” cutting room floor, though.
A source told me recently the Chiefs agreed to make a deal with the Saints for the 18th pick during that draft. I’m not sure what the compensation would have been for the pick. But I’ll safely assume it involved the No. 31 overall selection, which turned into a draft bust and a freshly traded Stephone Anthony.
Sean Payton openly stated the Saints intended to draft defensive tackle Danny Shelton with the 13th pick. The Browns swooped in to take Shelton. The move forced the Saints into “best player available” mode, and New Orleans drafted offensive lineman Andrus Peat.
That’s when the Saints turned their attention to having a Peat-Peters first-round combo. As we know, the move never occurred. The Chiefs took Peters with the pick and have themselves a two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro cornerback.
How much better shape would the Saints defense currently be if this deal went down?
Imagine a starting cornerback tandem of Peters and Delvin Breaux in 2015. Peters picked off eight passes his rookie year and six in 2016. He also combined for 46 pass breakups those two seasons.
It’s not just about Peters himself. The Saints could have focused draft picks and monetary assets in free agency and/or trades somewhere else.
Oh, what could have been.
