The New Orleans Saints attempted to acquire Jadeveon Clowney via a sign-and-trade, but the NFL said it would not be allowed.

The idea was for another team to sign Clowney and pay his signing bonus and then immediately trade him and his remaining salary to the Saints in exchange for a draft pick.

The other team essentially would have been "buying" a draft pick, which the NFL has never allowed.

The Saints were prepared to send a second-round pick and a player to the unspecified team.

Clowney instead signed with the Tennessee Titans.