Which New Orleans Saints players could be on the move at the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline? The latest reporting has highlighted names like right guard Cesar Ruiz, linebacker Pete Werner, and running back Kendre Miller, but another one to watch is veteran safety Justin Reid. With no guarantees left on his contract in 2027 and a dearth of quality safety play around the league, he could have some appeal to teams in the playoff hunt. Reid doesn't generate many turnovers but he's a reliable tackler with meaningful postseason experience.
Sure, trading Reid wouldn't help the Saints' salary cap situation (saving about $650,000 this year and nearly breaking even in 2027). But trading the 29-year old would open up snaps for younger players with something
to prove like Jordan Howden, who will be a free agent in the spring. Special teams aces Lorenzo Styles Jr. and Mike Reid could also compete for more snaps. It's important the Saints find out what they have in these guys on the bottom of the depth chart and determine if any of them can handle a larger role, or at least be part of the plan moving forwards. If the Saints can get another at-bat in the 2027 NFL Draft or improve the picks they already have, even better.
With that in mind, here are three trade proposals we'd hear out before next week's deadline.
Buffalo Bills
- Buffalo gets: S Justin Reid
- New Orleans gets: 2027 sixth-round pick (No. 185)
Buffalo could use another safety after cutting former Saints draft pick C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who ranked third on the team in snaps played (394) and first missed tackles (9). Cole Bishop is an every-down starter at the other safety spot, but the Bills lack a proven commodity next to him. Damar Hamlin is a good backup but he only has two years of starting experience. Reid is someone Buffalo could lean on.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Jacksonville gets: S Justin Reid, 2028 seventh-round pick (TBD)
- New Orleans gets: 2027 fifth-round pick (No. 164)
Antonio Johnson has played really well when healthy (so much so that we targeted him in our bye week 2027 mock offseason), and he's set to return from an ankle injury on Thursday Night Football. But the Jaguars have struggled to get consistency out of the other safety spot between Eric Murray and Rayuan Lane III. A steady veteran like Reid could be just what they need to lock things down on the back end.
Los Angeles Rams
- Los Angeles gets: S Justin Reid, 2027 fifth- and sixth-round picks (Nos. 144 and 181)
- New Orleans gets: 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks (Nos. 128 and 163)
This deal is based off the Sydney Brown trade between the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons; New Orleans gets two better picks while offloading Reid's contract. Quentin Lake is holding it down in the box but Kamren Curl has struggled at free safety, and neither Kamren Kinchens nor Jaylen McCollough have held up well in coverage. The Rams are treading water at 4-4, and getting an upgrade without losing any picks (even if they're going to be picking later) has to be appealing after their big moves thus far.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL trade deadline: 3 teams that could deal for Saints DB Justin Reid
