Saints acquiring CB Eli Apple in trade with Giants

1:35 PM ET

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints added to their aggressive flurry of trades this year by sending their fourth- and seventh-round draft picks to the New York Giants for cornerback Eli Apple, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

The move is obviously 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 year while starting all five games when healthy. And cornerback was arguably the biggest need for the Saints (5-1).

The Giants, meanwhile, had 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."

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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 kicked the tires on Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, according to both 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 away their 2019 first-round draft pick (to move up for DE Marcus Davenport in this year's draft) and their 2019 third-round pick (to acquire backup QB 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 "embarrassed" 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 assurance 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."

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 passing yards allowed per game (293.7) and are tied for first in the NFL with eight passing plays allowed of 42-plus yards, including a pass 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 he would line up opposite his former Ohio State teammate, Marshon Lattimore, who was the Saints' first-round pick in 2017.

The Saints now have a total of seven 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 on 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 pass defenses. Then he struggled last year, starting just seven games with no interceptions and eight pass defenses. This year he has zero interceptions, five pass 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.

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