[ad_1]
METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints added to their aggressive flurry of trades this year by sending fourth- and seventh-round draft picks to the New York Giants for cornerback Eli Apple on Tuesday.
The fourth-round pick is in the 2019 draft and the seventh-round pick is a 2020 selection.
The move is a gamble, considering Apple’s struggles on and off the field in New York last year. But the former first-round pick has played well this season, starting all five games when healthy. And cornerback was arguably the biggest need for the Saints (5-1).
The Giants, meanwhile, decided to give a clean slate to Apple after his tumultuous sophomore season, which ended with him being suspended for arguing with a coach and included teammate Landon Collins calling him a “cancer.”
Amari Cooper to the Cowboys. Eli Apple to the Saints. Carlos Hyde to the Jaguars. With the deadline approaching, here’s every NFL trade since training camp.
Win on the road when entering the fourth quarter down by double digits? Beat the No. 1-ranked D? New Orleans has never won a game like this before.
1 Related
Apple, still just 23 years old, had appeared to mend those fences throughout this season. Apparently, however, the Giants were ready to move on when they had the opportunity to get something in return.
The Saints had also inquired about Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, according to both ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Peterson’s cousin, Bryant McFadden. But Peterson would have been much more expensive, and the Cardinals insisted he wasn’t available in the first place.
The Saints had already traded their 2019 first-round draft pick (to move up for defensive end Marcus Davenport in this year’s draft) and their 2019 third-round pick (to acquire backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater).
Apple, who was selected in the first round of the 2016 draft out of Ohio State, has 23 tackles this season with one forced fumble. He missed two games earlier this season with a groin injury.
After the 2017 season, Apple admitted to being “embarrbaded” for his conduct and said “nobody wants to go out the way I went out.” He met with general manager Dave Gettleman and coach Pat Shurmur and was given badurance there would be a clean slate in 2018.
Annie Apple, Eli’s mother, on Tuesday thanked the Giants on Twitter for giving “a little football nerd opportunity to live his dream.”
Thank you Mr. Mara, Jerry Reese, and Coach Macadoo for drafting Eli Apple. You gave a little football nerd opportunity to live his dream. Special thanks to Mr. Mara for all he did for me during my illness last season. Will never forget it. And all my Giants family: Ally, Ashley❤️
— Annie Apple (@SurvivinAmerica) October 23, 2018
Trading for Apple is the most “win-now” move of those made of late by the Saints. Apple does remain on his rookie contract through 2019, with a team option for 2020.
The Saints have played better on defense since some early struggles this season, but they still rank 28th in pbading yards allowed per game (293.7) and are tied for first in the NFL with eight pbading plays allowed of 42-plus yards, including a pbad interference call.
They also lost veteran nickel cornerback Patrick Robinson to injured reserve last month.
Apple could potentially replace third-year pro Ken Crawley as the Saints’ No. 2 starter at cornerback — where Apple would line up opposite his former Ohio State teammate, Marshon Lattimore, who was the Saints’ first-round pick in 2017.
The Saints now have seven former Ohio State players on their active roster, injured reserve or practice squad — which could help provide a good atmosphere for Apple to continue his turnaround.
The Giants (1-6) lost their fourth straight game Monday night and remain tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals for the worst record in the NFL.
Apple played well as a rookie, starting 12 games, including the playoffs, with an interception, a forced fumble and eight pbad defenses. Then he struggled last year, starting just seven games with no interceptions and eight pbad defenses. This year he has no interceptions, five pbad defenses and a forced fumble.
The Giants have unloaded first-round picks from 2015 and 2016 in recent weeks. In addition to trading Apple, they also waived offensive tackle Ereck Flowers.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link
