Saints expected to sign WR Ted Ginn Jr., LB A.J. Klein

The New Orleans Saints are expected to raid the Carolina Panthers to sign wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and linebacker A.J. Klein, sources told ESPN.

Ginn is a deep threat who could help fill the void if the Saints trade wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

Nineteen of Ginn's 25 career touchdown receptions have come with Carolina, with whom his career took off after first signing with the team in 2013. That season, he had 36 catches for 536 yards and five touchdowns.

Klein was selected by the Panthers in the fifth round of the 2013 draft out of Iowa State. He spent most of his four seasons as a special teams player and backup to Pro Bowl middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, who has missed nine games over the past two seasons because of concussions.

After re-signing with the Panthers before the 2015 season, Ginn, who will turn 32 on April 12, responded with 44 catches for 739 yards and 10 touchdowns. He followed that with 54 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns this past season.

He has been at his best with the Panthers under wide receivers coach Ricky Proehl, who stepped down after the 2016 season to spend more time watching his sons play college football.

Ginn was the ninth overall pick by the Dolphins in the 2007 draft out of Ohio State. A former track star with elite speed, he earned a reputation for dropping passes early in his career and was traded to San Francisco for a fifth-round pick in 2010.

After finding success in his first stint with the Panthers, Ginn earned a three-year deal with the Cardinals. However, he was released after just one season in which he caught 14 passes for 190 yards and no touchdowns.

Ginn also is a return specialist with 6,451 career kickoff return yards and 2,295 career punt return yards.

The 25-year-old Klein has stepped up in Kuechly's absence, getting 23 of his 31 tackles this past season while Kuechly was injured. He has 146 career tackles, with five forced fumbles and an interception.

ESPN's Dianna Russini, Adam Caplan, Mike Triplett and David Newton contributed to this report.