Report: Saints targeted Kyle Fuller, Stephon Gilmore before Bradley Roby trade

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It’s no secret that the New Orleans Saints worked around the clock to find an upgrade at cornerback this summer. Their efforts started in free agency, when Richard Sherman wouldn’t settle for their offered price. It continued into the 2021 NFL draft, when New Orleans attempted to trade into the top-10. And talks continued into training camp, where NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the Saints made overtures for several proven veterans before ultimately landing Bradley Roby.

Rapoport clarified that the Saints offered the Denver Broncos “a really solid draft pick” for Kyle Fuller, though general manager George Paton decided to hang onto his big free agent acquisition. He adds that the Saints also called after New England Patriots No. 1 corner Stephon Gilmore, but to no avail.

In the end, it’s more-or-less worked out for everyone. The Saints landed Roby, who is expected to make his first start for New Orleans on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Fuller is stepping up for Denver after starter Ronald Darby was sent to injured reserve for a few weeks. And Gilmore is out of action on the physically unable to perform list with an offseason injury.

Maybe Fuller is a better player than Roby, but the Saints may have needed to give up more than they spent to acquire Roby (a 2022 third rounder and conditional sixth rounder in 2023) to pry him away. Maybe everyone is just where they’re supposed to be.

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