New Orleans traded punter Kai Kroeger and its 2028…
New Orleans traded punter Kai Kroeger and its 2028 seventh-round pick to Houston for the Texans' 2028 sixth-round pick in March 2026. Kroeger had punted in all 17 Saints games as a rookie, averaging 44.8 yards with 18 punts inside the 20. New Orleans moved up one late round while Houston filled a specialist vacancy at a modest cost.
Houston Texans Received
- player Kai Kroeger
- pick 2028 seventh-round pick
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 2028 sixth-round pick
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
The Saints and Texans agreed to a straightforward late-round swap in March 2026. New Orleans sent Kai Kroeger plus its 2028 seventh-round pick to Houston and received the Texans' 2028 sixth-round pick. The Saints announced the move on March 11, while trade records list the agreement on March 10.
New Orleans' Rationale
New Orleans had signed Ryan Wright and no longer needed to carry two punters. Instead of simply releasing Kroeger, the Saints turned him into a small improvement in future draft position. Kroeger had handled all 17 games in 2025, punting 56 times for 2,511 yards with 18 kicks downed inside the 20, so there was enough demonstrated value to attract a trade partner.
Houston's Need
Houston needed a punter after Tommy Townsend departed. Kroeger gave the Texans a young specialist with a full season of NFL experience and a low-cost contract. The price was limited: Houston moved from a sixth-round slot to a seventh-round slot three drafts in the future rather than giving away meaningful near-term capital.
Value Still Ahead
The draft portion cannot be graded by player outcomes yet because the 2028 selections have not occurred. That makes the present value modest on both sides. New Orleans banked a better pick; Houston bought certainty at a specialist position while retaining a late selection.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Both teams receive a C-plus. The Saints improved their future draft position for a player they were replacing, while the Texans filled a need without surrendering premium capital. The final edge will depend on Kroeger's Houston tenure and what the 2028 choices become.
New Orleans improved from a seventh- to a sixth-round selection, while Houston acquired an inexpensive punter who had handled every Saints game as a rookie, leaving the future value of the exchange reasonably balanced at this stage.