Saints Trade OL Trevor Penning to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2027 draft pick.
NEW ORLEANS —The New Orleans Saints have officially moved on from one of their top-2019 draft picks, trading offensive lineman Trevor Penning to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick, as reported by multiple sources.
Penning, who joined the Saints as the 19th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of University of Northern Iowa, leaves New Orleans after four seasons in black and gold.
A fresh start in L.A.
For the Chargers, this is a strategic acquisition. Their offensive line has been hit hard by injuries—starting tackle Rashawn Slater went down with a patellar tendon tear, and replacement Joe Alt is also set to miss the remainder of the season due to ankle surgery.
Penning offers positional flexibility; during his Saints tenure he logged 46 games played and 29 starts, shifting between tackle and guard roles as needed.
While his performance has had ups and downs, the Chargers appear ready to give him a fresh slate—likely back at tackle—in a scheme that desperately needs reinforcements.
The Saints’ calculation
For the Saints, trading Penning represents a signal: they are re-tooling and shifting focus. New Orleans currently sits at a 1-8 record and is tied for the worst mark in the league.
Declining Penning’s fifth-year option earlier this year had already flagged their intent. ([Canal Street Chronicles][4]) By turning a former first-round pick into a future sixth-rounder, the Saints free up cap space, open roster spots, and signal a willingness to move on from high-investment gambles.
Penning’s Saint legacy
Penning arrived with promise: 6-foot-7, explosive off the edge, and a first-round pedigree. Yet he also faced significant adversity—in his rookie year he suffered a torn ligament in his foot and missed time. While he rebounded with full seasons in 2023 and 2024, graded performance metrics remained uneven.
Still, his presence anchored New Orleans’ line for stretches, and he’s left the Saints with memories of hard work, big stature, and the challenge of potential unfulfilled.
For Penning: a new city, new system, and new chance to validate that first-round billing. With the Chargers, he’ll be tasked with stepping into a gap and trying to stabilize one of the league’s most wounded offensive lines.
For the Saints: the 2027 sixth-round pick might not jump off the page—but in a rebuilding year, every future asset counts. They’ll look to fill his spot via the draft or free agency as they pivot toward what comes next.
To Trevor Penning: thank you for your time in New Orleans. The black and gold salute you, and the @Saints salute you. Here’s to the next chapter. ⚜️