The New Orleans Saints have made all of their cuts, and there are a few surprises baked in as the team trimmed down to 53.
One draft pick was cut and a few familiar names have hit the road, though a good number of those players will be expected to return on the practice squad if they clear waivers.
Scroll below for all 32 cuts, as well as five more players headed to PUP or IR.
ROSTER CUTS
- Edge Isaiah Foskey
Quick take: It's rare to see a team cut a second round pick on their rookie deal, but this felt likely from the start and Foskey never did much to change that. The Saints have a new regime and defense, which will always makes a move like this more likely. He played a ton in the preseason and made more errors than positive plays. I'd honestly be surprised if he doesn't get claimed, because I think some team who had him graded high coming out of Notre Dame will see the pedigree and potential and take a shot at fixing him. Either way, a bummer and another example of a bad draft miss.
- WR Kevin Austin Jr.
Quick take: Austin was a player who made good use of his chances a year ago and I felt had an opportunity to come in and carve out a role this season, it just never really happened. The trade for Devaughn Vele felt like the final nail, because you don't give up assets like that for a bigger WR if you trust the guys in the room. Austin also had issues with drops. He's a hard worker and I wouldn't be surprised if he sticks around.
- TE Treyton Welch
Quick take: Welch has played well, but as long as Juwan Johnson is healthy the Saints don't need to devote a roster spot to a pass-catching TE. Still, he's developed a strong relationship with Tyler Shough, with the rookie QB raving about Welch after the preseason finale. If he clears waivers Welch is a no-brainer to stick on the practice squad.
- CB Dalys Beanum
Quick take: The Saints had a handful of young, intriguing corners vying for the final roster spots but Beanum never really climbed into an area where he was in serious contention. There are traits to like, and he'll be one of the many players who I expect to be in consideration to come back on the practice squad.
- RB Marcus Yarns
Quick take: Yarns is a solid player, he just found himself at the bottom of a pretty deep RB competition. His usage throughout the preseason made that apparent. He's got a good skillset and I think he'll get another chance to crack an NFL roster at some point.
- OL Shane Lemieux
Quick take: Lemieux is a useful player, but he suffered an ankle injury in the preseason finale and his upside is seriously capped. Wouldn't be surprised to see him land on the practice squad, but there's a lot to figure out on the backup OL.
- QB Jake Haener
Quick take: Kellen Moore was insistent throughout that Jake Haener wasn't just a valued member of the roster, but legitimately in the QB competition. This tells you all you need to know. Another member of the 2023 draft class out the door. I'd be surprised if Jake doesn't either get claimed or simply try to find a fresh start somewhere new.
- CB Rico Payton
Quick take: Rico had a really strong rookie camp to carve out a roster spot, but he just never seemed to take a step forward in Year 2. It's a new defensive scheme and other players seemed to have passed him up. He's a quality player and I'd expect him to land somewhere.
- LB D'Marco Jackson
Quick take: The Saints had strong depth in the LB room and the team had to make a tough call somewhere. I'm a bit surprised here just because of the usage in the preseason, but it's telling of how the team views young guys like Isaiah Stalbird and Jaylon Ford. I'd expect Darren Rizzi to be pulling Sean Payton's sleeve in Denver trying to get him in on waivers.
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Quick take: I thought Clyde had juice in his second season in New Orleans and as I projected things I really tried to talk my way into keeping him. In the end I just couldn't put him above rookie Devin Neal, and Velus Jones' speed and special teams upside was just tough to lose. Clyde is a veteran so he bypasses the waiver cycle. I'd expect the Saints would want to bring him back on the practice squad, but he'll also have the option to try to find an active roster spot somewhere else. If he does stick around Clyde could end up being a valuable piece throughout the season if injuries start to pile up.
- DT Jayden Peevy
Quick take: Peevy was a late addition to camp, and that's always a difficult road to travel in terms of carving out a roster spot. Peevy never really stood out, but he's the type of player you could look at for the practice squad if the numbers work out.
- OT Easton Kilty
Quick take: I thought Kilty played well throughout the preseason, so mark this down as another somewhat puzzling decision. Much like Ezirim, I think this is more of a signal that the Saints will be active in the waiver or veteran FA market, because if you asked me today I wouldn't be able to tell you who the backup tackles would be.
- DT Jonah Williams
Quick take: Jonah is a solid, veteran player in this league. I started out with him on my projections but it became clear that Nathan Shepherd was going to be the pick. I still think Williams has something to offer and good familiarity with Brandon Staley, so he'll be kept around if the Saints can get him back.
- WR Dante Pettis
Quick take: Not a huge surprise, but Pettis does offer return flex that this team will certainly value. He's also a guy that seems to deliver in big moments when needed. We'll see what happens, but I'd think Pettis comes back on the practice squad.
- S Terrell Burgess
Quick take: Burgess is a good player, but it was Ugo Amadi who took over the critical star position reps with Alontae Taylor out with an injury. That tells the story here. Burgess is a player that could be kept around.
- S Elliott Davison
Quick take: Never really flashed during camp. The Saints are in a good position at safety.
- Edge Fadil Diggs
Quick take: This was a bit of a surprise to me. I had Diggs sticking around and thought he had done enough, coupled with the fact that the Saints had him on a team-friendly contract for multiple seasons. I liked Rumph a lot as well, and it's clear he did enough to carve out a spot. The only 2025 draft pick to be cut, I think Diggs will be kept around if possible.
- K Charlie Smyth
Quick take: This was inevitable with Blake Grupe turning in one of the best camp performances you'll see, but I do think Charlie did enough this camp to stick around. The Saints get an extra practice squad spot for Charlie through IPP. If he clears waivers, that's where he'll land.
- LB Nephi Sewell
Quick take: Nephi is an easy player to like, but he just seemed to be squeezed out by some young, impressive players at linebacker that the team like a bit more. I wouldn't be surprised if he lands with Dennis Allen in Chicago or Darren Rizzi in Denver.
TO IR (return): DT John Ridgeway
Quick take: Ridgeway is being tagged as an IR to return player. The interior defensive line numbers were a lot more difficult to figure out before this injury and the Khalen Saunders trade. Ridgeway felt like he would end up being a tough cut. No one wants to get hurt, but the injury will allow him to stick around this season and he could be a useful addition if injuries mount. The Saints will be happy to keep him in the building.
TO IR (return): OL Barry Wesley
Quick take: Wesley left the preseason finale early with an injury and clearly it's something that isn't expected to keep him out the rest of the year. Teams get two early IR to return designations, so any other players that land on IR prior to cuts will be done for the year. Using one of those tags on Wesley -- a player who was probably a cut candidate otherwise -- is a good indicator that some of the other injured players (Trevor Penning and Alontae Taylor, to name a few) will be expected back in the action early on in the season.
TO IR: OL Landon Young
Quick take: It appears Young is not being tagged as an IR to return player (the Saints only get two prior to cutdowns). This would be a serious blow to the team's OL depth and I'm not sure the guy replacing him in that swing tackle role is currently on the roster.
TO PUP (in-season): TE Foster Moreau
Quick take: It's been pretty clear for a few weeks now that Moreau's rehab was going to run into camp (I expect a decision on Taysom Hill to follow shortly) meaning that he'd transition from the preseason
TO PUT (in-season): TE Taysom Hill
Quick take: Copy and paste from above. Taysom still has a ways to go in his recovery. He'll miss at least the first month of the season and we still don't know exactly what his role will look like when he comes back. TBD
All the cuts below were made on Monday
- P James Burnip
Quick take: The former Alabama standout came in with some hype after a stellar college career, but he just never found a way to stand out and it became clear later on in the process that fellow rookie Kai Kroeger was ahead. Neither player truly owned the job and the Saints could definitely still look to improve in this role. If not it'll be the third consecutive season with a rookie punter.
- TE Seth Green
Quick take: The first few cuts tend to be the easier decisions, and considering Green was already cut at one point this camp before a TE injury re-opened the door, this isn't a surprise. The former UFL player did have some grabs in the preseason action, but he was well down the depth chart and the more difficult decisions will be had around the players above him.
- RB Cam Akers
Quick take: The depth RB competition was one of the more intriguing to watch throughout camp and Akers was well within that group, but he just never seemed to have the type of signature moment you probably need to fill a spot here. The veteran did still look to have juice despite his injury history and could be a practice squad candidate.
- TE Michael Jacobson
Quick take: What you can say for Jacobson is he's a veteran when it comes to the awkward cuts conversation. This marks a third consecutive offseason for him on this list with the Saints. The former college basketball player has continued to develop at the NFL level and could certainly be a practice squad candidate.
- DL Jeremiah Martin
Quick take: The edge rusher/defensive end positions were a bit of a logjam and the depth chart felt pretty solidified early on. There were no injuries to create extra opportunities and the difficult conversations will come above Martin on the depth chart.
- OL Kyle Hergel
Quick take: Went into this camp thinking Hergel had a shot to carve out a depth role after a solid rookie season, but he was supplanted early on by Torricelli Simpkins and just didn't get the reps. Hergel is a solid young player with guard/center flex and could stick around on practice squad.
- WR Moochie Dixon
Quick take: The number of WRs the Saints keep on the 53 will be interesting to watch, but Moochie was well down that list. Never really carved out much of an identity on offense or special teams.
- WR Roderick Daniels Jr.
Quick take: Roderick was a late arrival to camp and never really found a way to make an impact. He does have some upside as a returner if the Saints need help in that department, but right now they seem well stocked.
- OL Mike Panasiuk
Quick take: Another late arrival, Panasiuk never really factored into the line rotation. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of this position ultimately shapes up.
- OT Josiah Ezirim
Quick take: This one surprised me a bit, and only because the Saints are suddenly thin at tackle with what looks to be a long-term injury for Landon Young. Ezirim hadn't exactly stood out, but he was a body at a thin position. I think tackle has to be a priority as the Saints look at the waiver wire.
- OT Jonathan Mendoza
Quick take: Mendoza was the player who got beat on Tyler Shough's sack-fumble. That's never a recipe to make the team, even if the pair did play together at Louisville.
- DE Omari Thomas
Quick take: The Saints have a lot of questions to answer on the defensive line but they definitely have the numbers. I actually thought Omari played pretty well, but he probably needed an injury or two to have a shot.
- LB Tyreem Powell
Quick take: I've said for a while now that the Saints deepest position is inside linebacker, and that put Tyreem well on the outside. I wouldn't say he played poorly, but he also didn't do anything to catch my attention throughout camp.
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