HEADLINES

Tre’Quan Smith

Falcons Host Tre’Quan Smith, Nick Easton

March 17th, 2022 at 5:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Still in contention to acquire Deshaun Watson, the Falcons continue to meet with potential supporting-casters for him (or Matt Ryan). In addition to its Jarvis Landry meeting, Atlanta is hosting wideout Tre’Quan Smith, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes.

A four-year Saints cog, Smith arrived in Atlanta on Thursday. The Falcons are also meeting with ex-Saints offensive lineman Nick Easton, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Easton spent two seasons with the Saints.

[RELATED: Falcons To Sign RB Damien Williams]

The Saints and Falcons are viewed as the favorites for Watson, who has also met with the Panthers. The winner of these sweepstakes will be sending the Texans a historic trade package, one that is expected to include three first-round picks and additional assets. Watson’s $39MM-per-year contract will also be on an NFC South team’s books soon, creating a need for some cost-effective contributors. Smith and Easton qualify.

Although a Smith touchdown doubled as one of Drew Brees‘ record-setting sequences, he could not establish himself as a consistent weapon in New Orleans. The former third-round pick did not have a 500-yard receiving season in four Saints years, with injuries intervening at points as well. Smith missed six games last season and caught 32 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-2 Central Florida product does have 17 career TD grabs, however.

Calvin Ridley‘s gambling suspension and Russell Gage‘s Buccaneers defection leave the Falcons quite thin at receiver. Landry remains unsigned. Even if the five-time Pro Bowler joins the Falcons, they will need additional help at the position.

Easton spent last season out of football but has extensive experience as a starter. The Saints added the ex-Vikings guard starter as a swing player but used him as a 15-game starter during the 2019 and ’20 seasons. Easton’s market stalled in April 2021, and his year away surely will limit his opportunities. But the Falcons are interested. Pro Football Focus rated Atlanta’s O-line 27th last season, with rookie left guard Jalen Mayfield drawing one of the site’s worst overall grades. Right guard Chris Lindstrom fared much better, but the Falcons could still use help up front.

Saints Shuffle Roster, Activate Three Players From IR

October 25th, 2021 at 6:40pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints are welcoming back three players for tonight’s game against the Seahawks. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports (via Twitter) that New Orleans is activating linebacker Kwon Alexander, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith from IR. The three players returned to practice last week, and they’ll all be eligible to play tonight.

The Saints also promoted wideout Kevin White from the practice squad. To make room on the roster, the team released center Will Clapp and defensive tackle Albert Huggins (via Underhill on Twitter).

Alexander (elbow) and Davenport (shoulder) were both placed on IR in mid-September, while Smith (hamstring) landed on IR a bit earlier than that. The Saints moved Davenport back into their starting lineup to start this season, and he registered a sack and two QB hits in the Saints’ dominant Week 1 win over the Packers. Alexander worked his way back from a December Achilles tear to be ready in time for the Saints’ opener, but this latest injury continued a rough run of health for the former Buccaneers standout. Smith’s injury dogged him for several weeks, as he tried and failed to come back from it twice. It caused the former third-round pick to miss extensive training camp time.

White joined the Saints back in August, and he later landed on the team’s practice squad. The former first-round pick got into three games with the 49ers in 2020, but he only saw nine snaps on offense. Clapp was a seventh-round pick by the Saints in 2018, and he got into 27 games (four starts) through three-plus seasons with the team. Huggins has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted in 2019. He saw time in four games (one start) for the Saints this season, collecting seven tackles and two QB hits.

Saints Designate LB Kwon Alexander, DE Marcus Davenport, WR Tre’Quan Smith For Return

October 19th, 2021 at 5:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints are about to get some reinforcement. The team designated linebacker Kwon Alexander, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith for return from injured reserve today, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).

Alexander (elbow) and Davenport (shoulder) were both placed on IR in mid-September, meaning the earliest they could have returned was Week 5.

The Saints moved Davenport back into their starting lineup to start this season, providing the player with an opportunity to re-establish himself opposite Cameron Jordan. Davenport registered a sack and two QB hits in the Saints’ dominant Week 1 win over the Packers.

Alexander worked his way back from a December Achilles tear to be ready in time for the Saints’ opener, but this latest injury continued a rough run of health for the former Buccaneers standout. Alexander suffered a torn ACL in 2018, though he still landed a nice contract from the 49ers. However, the veteran linebacker sustained a pectoral muscle tear in his first 49ers season.

Smith landed on IR a bit earlier than his defensive teammates after suffering a hamstring injury. The injury dogged Smith for several weeks, as he tried and failed to come back from it twice. It caused the former third-round pick to miss extensive training camp time.

While the Saints will happily welcome back this trio, they’ll still be without one of the most notable players. While wideout Michael Thomas was eligible to return from PUP this week, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes (via Twitter) that there hasn’t been any news on his potential activation.

Saints Rework Tre’Quan Smith’s Deal

September 21st, 2021 at 8:38am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have converted roughly $1.2MM of Tre’Quan Smith’s base salary into a signing bonus (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). The maneuver will also tack four void years on to his deal, though it’ll provide the Saints with an extra $954K in cap space. 

The Saints have yet to see Smith on the field this year thanks to a hamstring injury. The fourth-year wideout could debut as soon as Week 4, but there’s no word yet on his status. Smith was dogged by the hammy for much of the summer — he tried to come back from it prematurely a couple of times but ultimately had to rest it. The Saints hope to have him back in the fold some time after his short-term IR stint is through.

Smith, a former third-round pick, has a chance to break out while Michael Thomas heals up from offseason ankle surgery. Thomas will be out for the first six games, at minimum, since he’s on the PUP list.

Last year, Smith was enjoying a career year up until he was sidelined by his own ankle issue. In 14 games (10 starts), the 25-year-old hauled in 34 receptions for 448 yards and four scores. Since his new void years are only for cap purposes, he remains on course for free agency in the spring.

Saints Place WR Tre’Quan Smith, CB Ken Crawley On IR

September 10th, 2021 at 3:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jameis Winston‘s debut as the Saints’ starting quarterback will come without another of his top wide receivers. Tre’Quan Smith will begin the season on IR, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football tweets.

The Saints added Smith to their injury report Thursday, and the hamstring injury the fourth-year wideout has battled will shelve him for at least three games. Additionally, New Orleans placed veteran cornerback Ken Crawley on IR. Crawley is also dealing with a hamstring malady.

This injury has dogged Smith for several weeks. He has now tried and failed to come back from it twice. It caused the former third-round pick to miss extensive training camp time. It also comes, of course, at a key point for New Orleans’ passing attack, which will feature a new quarterback for the first time in 15 years. Michael Thomas‘ belated offseason ankle surgery will sideline him for at least the season’s first six games; the All-Pro is on the Saints’ reserve/PUP list.

Crawley represents key depth for a Saints team that has been undermanned at corner this year. The team traded for Bradley Roby earlier this week, however. That acquisition, pairing Roby with fellow ex-Ohio State standout Marshon Lattimore, looms larger now.

Thomas and Smith’s absences will leave Drew Brees‘ successor with a much lower-profile receiving corps. Although Marquez Callaway impressed throughout the Saints’ summer work, the team did not draft a wideout this year and has only return man Deonte Harris, third-year UDFA Lil’Jordan Humphrey and veteran Chris Hogan — who recently left the game to give lacrosse another try — at the position. Running back/wideout Ty Montgomery remains on New Orleans’ roster, and Kevin White resides on the team’s practice squad.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/16/21

January 16th, 2021 at 3:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the minor moves from divisional-round Saturday:

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Saints WR Tre’Quan Smith Returns To Practice

January 13th, 2021 at 5:39pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints’ receiving corps could be at full health this weekend against the Buccaneers. The team designated wideout Tre’Quan Smith to return to practice, per the league’s transactions report.

Smith had spent the past three weeks on the injured reserve as he nursed an ankle injury. When he last appeared in Week 15, the Saints were welcoming back quarterback Drew Brees, although they were missing wideouts Michael Thomas, Marquez Callaway, and Deonte Harris. Assuming Smith is good to go for this weekend, New Orleans should have their full arsenal of wideouts (a grouping that also includes Emmanuel Sanders) on Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Smith, a former third-round pick, was having a career year before he was sidelined by his injury. In 14 games (10 starts), the 25-year-old hauled in 34 receptions for 448 yards and four scores.

While the Saints seem to be getting healthy at receiver, they may be dealing with some issues at running back. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that running back Latavius Murray is considered day-to-day with a quad injury. While the veteran is hoping to play this weekend, Rapoport describes his status as “up in the air.” If the 30-year-old can’t go this weekend, the team will likely turn to Dwayne Washington or Ty Montgomery as Alvin Kamara‘s backups.

Saints Sign Rookie Tre’Quan Smith

May 21st, 2018 at 12:25pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints announced the signing of third-round wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith. With that deal done, the Saints now have all of their draft picks under contract. 

Smith, a 6’2″ receiver out of UCF, was the Saints’ second-highest pick in this year’s draft class thanks to their 2017 deal with the Niners that allowed them to select running back Alvin Kamara. Although there were players the Saints would have liked to have at No. 59 overall this year, it’s safe to say the trade was worthwhile.

Heading into the draft, many viewed Smith as a fourth or fifth-round prospect. The Saints clearly did not agree with that assessment as they grabbed him late in the third. Armed with a quick first step and a freakish wingspan, the Saints believe that Smith can be molded into a quality contributor.

Here’s a look at the Saints’ complete 2018 draft class:

You can view every team’s 2018 draft class and the contractual status of its rookies with PFR’s Results By Team tracker.