Apple trade makes sense for win-now Saints

On the surface, Eli Apple is a solid acquisition for the New Orleans Saints.

To start with, Apple is just 23. He is a former first-round draft pick, the 10th overall in 2016. He has good size (6-1, 203).

Apple should fit right in playing on the opposite side of Marshon Lattimore and there should be good chemistry. Apple was a college teammate of Lattimore at Ohio State. They know each other well. For that matter, Apple was also a teammate of Vonn Bell with the Buckeyes.

Additionally, Apple, who was never a great fit in the New York market, should benefit from the change of scenery and leaving a bad team for a good team.

Apple played in 14 games, starting 11 in his rookie season of 2016, recording 51 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. That is the only interception of his young career.

A year ago, he played in 11 games, starting seven and had 49 tackles.

He was suspended for the final game a year ago for openly questioning then-head coach Ben McAdoo.

This season, he has started all five games and has been in on 23 tackles and has a forced fumble while breaking up five passes.

By giving up a fourth-round pick next year, the Saints have only a second-round pick in the first four rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft. Additionally, the Saints gave up a seventh-round pick in 2020.

Was the price too high?

Not for a 23-year-old player with size and promise. He is rated as the 36th-best corner in the league while the player he will replace, Ken Crawley, is ranked 105th, according to Pro Football Focus. Apple runs well. He can turn his hips and run with most receivers in the league. Apple has not allowed a touchdown pass this season. PFF also gives Apple a 64.1 rating this year with 60 being average. He was at 64.5 a year ago.

According to NFL Next Gen statistics, Apple has allowed just 18 receptions on 32 targets this year, a very good ratio. He can play man coverage and play press coverage pretty well. He is affordable with the Saints owing him about $1 million for the remainder of this season and $2.5 million next season.

On the downside, Apple, who tackled very well a year ago, has missed seven tackles this season. Also, Giants teammate Landon Collins called Apple “a cancer” last year.

The Saints needed help desperately in the secondary.

Pro Football Focus ranked the Saints secondary 31st out of 32 teams in coverage with a 52.9 coverage grade. The Saints have allowed a 121.2 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks and have allowed 13 touchdown passes and incurred an alarming number of penalties. New Orleans is 28th in passing yards allowed. The Saints have just five interceptions. Lattimore has none and has not been nearly as good thus far this season as he was a year ago. Those are poor, ominous numbers, to say the least.

What does this mean for the Saints?

Clearly, they are going for it all now and why not? Drew Brees deserves nothing less. The window of opportunity is here and it is now. The Saints are clearly among the top three teams in the NFC and they play the other two primary contenders the next two weeks in the Vikings and Rams. Both have good quarterbacks and good receivers so Apple arrives at an opportune time. The NFL is all about matchups. This move helps the Saints in combating the Vikings, Rams, Eagles, Falcons. Buccaneers and Panthers.

Can the Saints get him ready to play Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium? I would think so.

Based on the lack of communication in the secondary, it cannot be any worse than what we have seen at times and with the loss of Patrick Robinson, Apple is needed.

Why did the Saints not go after Patrick Peterson?

First of all, there is the cost of the player financially. It is massive. Secondly, there is the potential cost in any deal. Arizona will likely demand a first-round pick, if not more, for Peterson. The Saints lack those assets. it is notable that the Cardinals say they are not interested in dealing him. Peterson is under contract through 2020.

The Saints are a contender and they are going for it all now. Do not be surprised if you see another move soon. While the secondary is the most glaring need, New Orleans will try to add another wide receiver, if possible, without upsetting its future by mortgaging more draft picks. While Tre’Quan Smith has looked good and Michael Thomas is a stud, are they totally certain Cameron Meredith is the guy they want him to be without Ted Ginn Jr. in the fold?

As long as Apple shows up with a positive attitude and is team oriented and not “a cancer,” this looks like a solid move by the Saints. Sometimes, a change of scenery can be the panacea for discontent. So, too, is going from a loser to a winner. Let us hope that is the case with Apple.