Saints ship Stills to Dolphins

Mar 13, 2015 - 7:36 PM Metairie, LA (Sports Network) - The New Orleans Saints made another trade involving an offensive player on Friday, sending big-play wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and a 2015 draft choice.

The Dolphins will give New Orleans its third-round pick as part of the swap.

Stills is coming off a breakout 2014 season in which he caught 63 passes totaling 931 yards and three touchdowns. The speedy 22-year-old averaged 20 yards on 32 catches and scored five TDs as a rookie the previous year.

The re-tooling Saints previously dealt All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and a fourth-round pick to Seattle on Tuesday, receiving center Max Unger and the Seahawks' 2015 first-rounder in the deal. Two days later, New Orleans shipped veteran guard Ben Grubbs to Kansas City in exchange for a fifth-round selection.

Stills joins a Miami offense that has also added athletic tight end Jordan Cameron in free agency and could start opposite Mike Wallace, if the Dolphins decide to keep the high-priced wideout's $12.1 million cap hit on the roster.

Ellerbe also comes with a hefty price tag, as he's slated to earn $8.45 million in 2015. NFL.com reported, however, that the six-year veteran agreed to restructure his contract in order to facilitate the trade.

Signed to a five-year, $35 million deal by the Dolphins in 2013, Ellerbe had a disappointing first season in Miami and played in just one game last year before suffering a season-ending hip injury.

The 29-year-old should have an opportunity to start at inside linebacker for the Saints, who recently released veteran Curtis Lofton.