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The Saints acquired TE Jeremy Shockey in a deal with the Giants on Monday. New Orleans sent 2009 second- and fifth-round picks to the defending champions. The swap is pending league approval, and Shockey must pass a physical before the trade is finalized.
Reports indicate the Saints’ offer was the same one they gave the Giants prior to the draft in April, when Shockey trade rumors began to heat up. New Orleans had been targeting Shockey, a seventh-year veteran, since before the start of free agency in February. Shockey, who has built a reputation for causing controversy, grew disgruntled with the Giants this offseason, reportedly engaging in a shouting match with GM Jerry Reese, and the team granted him his departure before training camp began to avoid any added distractions.
The PFW spin
Shockey will immediately become the Saints’ No. 1 tight end, if he passes the physical and shows no lingering effects of the broken leg that kept him out of the Giants’ run to the Super Bowl last season.
He’s a tremendous talent with game-breaking ability and adds a new dimension to the Saints’ passing game, which was already a potent component of the team’s offense. The tight end wasn’t a major factor in New Orleans’ offense last season, and starter Eric Johnson was a major disappointment after coming over from the 49ers. The Saints’ top tight ends — Johnson and backup Billy Miller — combined for 706 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Shockey, by comparison, had 619 receiving yards and three touchdowns through 14 games before suffering a broken leg. In the two seasons prior, Shockey averaged 757 yards and seven touchdowns.
Adding Shockey gives QB Drew Brees another playmaker to go along with ’07 Pro Bowl WR Marques Colston in New Orleans’ passing attack. Defenses will have to pay closer attention to the Saints’ tight end with Shockey in position. The Miami (Fla.) product is also considered a sound blocking tight end and should help clear holes for RBs Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush.
Shockey is a four-time Pro Bowler, but staying healthy has been a challenge for him — he’s never played a full 16-game season. He will need to learn the Saints’ offense on the fly, as players are set to report to training camp on Wednesday, but he has some familiarity with head coach Sean Payton, who served as the Giants’ offensive coordinator during Shockey’s rookie season in ’02. Shockey had 894 receiving yards that year, which is still his career high.
The Saints now have four tight ends on their roster, with Shockey, Johnson, Miller and Mark Campbell, so the trade means there will be some tough competition for roster spots in camp. It’s unlikely that Payton will keep all four players.
Our fantasy take
This trade does have some significant consequences for Shockey’s fantasy value. There were major concerns that he would be splitting time with Kevin Boss at tight end with the Giants, but Shockey will be alone at the top of the depth chart in New Orleans.
As always, there are durability concerns with Shockey, so the Saints may not be able to utilize him to the level they would like, but he certainly should have more opportunities than he did with the Giants, which could bump him up a few spots on your fantasy draft board, if you’re willing to take a risk on a guy with injury concerns.
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