The Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday acquired offensive lineman Trevor Penning in a trade with the Saints.
In exchange, the Chargers will send a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Saints. The deal is pending a physical.
Here are five things to know about Penning:
1. Coming from New Orleans
The newest Charger offensive lineman makes his way to Los Angeles after a couple of seasons with the Saints.
After missing the first three weeks of the season, Penning played and started six games for New Orleans at left guard this season.
He played in 100 percent of the snaps in all of the games and has allowed just one sack since Week 5, according to Pro Football Focus.
2. Experience along the line
Penning joins the Chargers with flexibility along the offensive line.
The 26-year-old recently moved to the interior this season after spending the first three seasons of his career on the outside at tackle.
Penning played 23 games (six starts) and 463 total snaps at left tackle during his first two seasons in the league before making the switch to the other side in 2024.
He played and start in all 17 games for New Orleans at right tackle last season and posted a 70.1 PFF run blocking grade.
The Los Angeles Chargers have acquired offensive lineman Trevor Penning from the New Orleans Saints.
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) blocks during an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Houston. Houston won 17-13. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) looks on from the field during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in New Orleans. The Saints defeated the Titans 16-15. (Cooper Neill via AP)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) defends in coverage during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Charlotte N.C. The Saints won 20-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) drops back to block during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in New Orleans. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 26 to 9. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) walks between plays during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in New Orleans. The Jaguars won 31-24. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates with offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, right, battles against New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Saints, 26-13. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) sets up to block against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Saints 26-13. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) runs during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New Orleans. (Michael Owens via AP)
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) runs around the edge as New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) blocks during an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New Orleans. The Broncos defeated the Saints 33-10. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) blocks Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske (55) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 01, 2024, in New Orleans. The Rams defeated the Saints 21-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) defends against Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) and center Cesar Ruiz (51) blocks during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Saints 34-0. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) blocks Green Bay Packers defensive end Kingsley Enagbare (55) during an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Saints 34-0. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in New Orleans. The Raiders defeated the Saints 25-10. (Cooper Neill via AP)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) looks on from the field during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in New Orleans. The Raiders defeated the Saints 25-10. (Cooper Neill via AP)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) celebrates his touchdown reception with offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) lines up in the first half during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning looks on in the third quarter during an NFL football game against New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning (70) lines up for a play as quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) calls out from the line scrimmage in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
3. Former 1st-round pick
Penning arrived in New Orleans after being a first round selection.
After a pre-draft trade gave the Saints another first rounder, they used the No. 19 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on the offensive lineman. He was the fourth tackle selected that year.
All in all, Penning finished his time with the Saints having played in 46 games (29 starts) over his four years.
4. FCS standout
The offensive lineman was a star at Northern Iowa during his collegiate career.
Penning played in 37 games over his career with the Panthers, starting 33 of them.
He started all 12 games at left tackle in his final season with Northern Iowa and was the only offensive lineman in the country to be named as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is annually awarded to the FCS National Offensive Player of the Year.
Penning became the first player in Northern Iowa's history to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
5. What it means for OL
The move brings the Chargers some experience on a unit that has battled injuries.
With star offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater now both out for the season (Slater was injured in training camp), the trade for Penning brings some depth and position flexibility.
While it remains to be see how he factors in, whether at tackle or guard, he adds some insurance to the offensive line with Trey Pipkins III, Austin Deculus and Jamare Salyer all figuring to be factors with the absence of Alt.
