Tag: Moves

Saints waive rookie draft pick WR Kawaan Baker

New Orleans Saints: Rookie draft pick Kawaan Baker among roster cuts

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The New Orleans Saints have begun the difficult process of cutting their roster down from 80 players to just 53, and one of the first to go was rookie wide receiver Kawaan Baker. The team’s seventh round draft pick out of South Alabama struggled to separate from the pack in training camp. While he should be a favorite to land on the practice squad for more development, he has to clear waivers first.

Additionally, the Saints also waived wide receiver Easop Winston, who handled the bulk of returns duties on punts and kickoffs during their two preseason games. He made our final roster projection as an option to fill in for Deonte Harris, but the All-Pro returns specialist still has not officially received notice of his two-game NFL suspension following an offseason DUI charge. If Harris is cleared to start the regular season, Winston doesn’t have a role on the team.

This is an ongoing process that will continue to see roster moves filed in the hours and days ahead, so stay tuned for updates. For now, the Saints wide receiver corps includes two injured starters (Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith) whose Week 1 availability is in doubt, along with Marquez Callaway, Ty Montgomery, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Chris Hogan, and Kevin White. The team rarely rosters more than five receivers so keep an eye out for more movement.

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Saints depth chart update after whirlwind of 15 roster moves in two days

The New Orleans Saints shuffled their depth chart during the first wave of roster cuts, with 15 different players coming and going. What does it look like now?

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The New Orleans Saints shuffled their depth chart during the first wave of roster cuts, with 15 different players coming and going the last few days. What does the team look like now? Here is a position-by-position review of all the latest changes, with more on the way:

Saints release guard Nick Easton, saving almost $6 million in cap space

The New Orleans Saints released G Nick Easton as a salary cap casualty, in addition to COVID-19 opt-outs Cole Wick and Jason Vander Laan.

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The next domino has fallen on the New Orleans Saints offseason. The team reported the release of veteran guard Nick Easton on Friday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire, a move that creates $5.875 million in 2021 salary cap space.

However, this wasn’t purely a panic-driven move in New Orleans’ dive to get beneath the salary cap. Easton’s level of play — and injury history — didn’t line up with the $6.875 million he was due to account for in 2021. With just $1 million guaranteed to Easton and good options along the interior line, it makes sense for the Saints to go this route.

Additionally, Easton was sidelined three times by concussions in 2020, ultimately missing seven weeks over the course of the season (including the playoffs) while dealing with symptoms. Retirement should be a serious consideration for him this offseason after suffering so many brain injuries in such short a span.

Still, he was a good player for the Saints. Easton started 15 of the 22 games he appeared in over the last two years and played so well that rookie first-round draft pick Cesar Ruiz couldn’t displace him at right guard. He was an important stabilizing presence in the wake of Max Unger’s 2019 retirement and Larry Warford’s 2020 release.

Additionally, the Saints reported the release of two backup tight ends on Friday: Cole Wick and Jason Vander Laan, both of whom opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They now have 56 players under contract against the 90-man offseason roster limit.

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Saints stock up on emergency options, sign long snapper John Denney

The New Orleans Saints signed veteran long snapper John Denney to their practice squad, adding another emergency option against COVID-19.

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The New Orleans Saints aren’t leaving anything to chance or COVID-19. They’ve added another specialist to their practice squad by signing long snapper John Denney, per his agent Ian Greengross.

Denney, 42, visited the Saints three times this season as a free agent. While he hasn’t played in two years, he was coached into a couple of Pro Bowls with the Miami Dolphins by current Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi. He worked out alongside veteran kicker Blair Walsh twice in recent weeks, who also signed with the Saints practice squad.

So add them to the pile of “just in case” backups, along with practice squad quarterback Trevor Siemian and rookie punter Blake Gillikin (on injured reserve, where he can return from at any time). If everything goes according to plan, the Saints will continue marching through the playoffs with Drew Brees starting at quarterback, Wil Lutz at kicker, Zach Wood at long snapper, and Thomas Morstead at punter. But if any of them suddenly become unavailable, New Orleans has a fallback plan.

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Chiefs downgrade RT Mike Remmer, activate former first-round CB DeAndre Baker

The Kansas City Chiefs will face the New Orleans Saints without right tackle Mike Remmer, but cornerback DeAndre Baker will be available.

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The Kansas City Chiefs reported several roster moves before Sunday’s kickoff with the New Orleans Saints, including the loss of right tackle Mike Remmers. Remmers was initially listed as doubtful to play on Friday’s injury report, but the Chiefs have ruled him out for Week 15. He was already filling in for injured starter Mitchell Schwartz, meaning Kansas City will be rolling with its third-string right tackle against Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan.

Additionally, the Chiefs called up help from their practice squad: namely cornerback DeAndre Baker, the former New York Giants first-round draft pick who joined them in mid-November. Linebacker Emmanuel Smith and guard Stefen Wisniewski will also have opportunities to get on the field against New Orleans.

So what does this mean for the Saints? The Chiefs secondary could be deeper than expected if Baker is ready to step in, but the weakness at right tackle could be exploited. It’s worth noting that the Saints defensive line didn’t take advantage of similar mismatches up front earlier this season in games with the Las Vegas Raiders (starting a backup guard at right tackle) and the Philadelphia Eagles (missing All-Pro starter Lane Johnson). Here’s hoping things go differently this time.

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Saints roster moves: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey back on the practice squad

The New Orleans Saints welcomed several players to practice including LT Terron Armstead (from COVID-19/reserve) and WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

The New Orleans Saints reported a series of roster moves and formal designations on the daily NFL transactions wire, signaling the return of several players to the depth chart. While a couple of these additions were expected, there were also a few pleasant surprises. Let’s dig in:

Saints announce a series of roster moves, send Sheldon Rankins to I.R.

The New Orleans Saints sent DT Sheldon Rankins and CB Justin Hardee to injured reserve after practice, and activated RB Ty Montgomery.

The New Orleans Saints completed a few routine roster moves on Friday after practice, designating two players to the injured reserve list while activating a third from it. Here’s what you need to know about each transaction:

Saints waive Will Clapp again days after signing him to the active roster

The New Orleans Saints have signed, waived, and re-signed offensive lineman Will Clapp 4 times in two weeks as they shuffle the roster.

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The New Orleans Saints reported just two moves on the daily NFL transactions wire Thursday: the signing of wide receiver Tommylee Lewis to their practice squad and the waiving of offensive lineman Will Clapp from the 53-man roster.

This comes just days after Clapp was signed to the roster from the practice squad, which was preceded by him first being waived on Sept. 26. That’s kind of tough to follow, so here’s the timeline laid out a little more clearly:

So he’s been moved on and off of the team four times in the last two weeks (give or take a day). The Saints practice squad is back to its 16-man capacity (cornerback Ken Crawley and tight end Garrett Griffin reverted to it after being called up for Week 4’s game with the Detroit Lions), so it’s not immediately certain that Clapp will return. But this does suggest there’s a pattern to his transactions as the Saints work within the limits of NFL roster rules.

It’s familiar territory for them. The Saints signed, waived, and re-signed practice squad quarterback J.T. Barrett 28 times from May 2018 to October 2019, which came up just short of former wideout Andy Tanner’s record (having been involved with 29 Saints roster moves from 2011 to 2015). Clapp is someone they’re comfortable dressing for games in a pinch, but also a player the Saints trust can pass through waivers uncontested. We’ll see if the gamble pays off or if his time is already up in New Orleans.

Depending on how the Thursday injury report shakes out, Clapp’s services may no longer be needed. Left guard Andrus Peat is working to return from injury and veteran backup James Hurst just came off the NFL suspended list. They have other reserves like Cameron Tom and Calvin Throckmorton waiting on the practice squad, and a group of four free agent linemen went through a tryout earlier this week. So it’s possible that this is it for Clapp, but we won’t be shocked if he returns soon enough.

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Signing WR Emmanuel Sanders named best move of the Saints offseason

The best move of the New Orleans Saints offseason may have been the signing of free agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, a big-play threat.

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Which roster move will be remembered as the golden moment of the New Orleans Saints offseason? A reunion with Malcolm Jenkins, a former first-round pick and Super Bowl champion? The safe draft-day addition in Michigan center Cesar Ruiz? Or bold trades up the board for rookies Zack Baun, Adam Trautman, or Tommy Stevens? Maybe other investments, like a contract extension for David Onyemata or triggering the fifth-year options for Marshon Lattimore and Ryan Ramczyk?

According to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, their best pickup was the acquisition of veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Knox identified the second receiver spot as a big weakness for New Orleans, and credited the Saints for moving quickly to address it:

Well, the Saints did a tremendous job filling that role by snagging Emmanuel Sanders on a two-year deal. He was traded to San Francisco just before the trade deadline last season, and he caught 36 passes for 532 yards and three touchdowns in just 10 games.

With a full offseason working alongside Drew Brees and Co., Sanders should be a 1,000-yard candidate in 2020. Just as importantly, his contract coincides with the two-year window the Saints have left with Brees.

That’s a high bar for Sanders to cross, but it’s not impossible; the lower end of projections see him catching more than 50 passes in the Saints offense, which a non-Michael Thomas receiver hasn’t done since the 2017 season (when Ted Ginn Jr. caught 53).

Everything checks out for Sanders as far as his talent level and schematic fit are concerned. The only question is how many targets he’ll receive behind Thomas, with Pro Bowlers like Alvin Kamara and Jared Cook also earning touches. If Sanders is given every opportunity to succeed (as he should), this could end up being a vintage year for the 33-year old, who hasn’t been paired with a great quarterback since the twilight of Peyton Manning’s career.

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Saints add another defensive end, waive rookie tackle Darrin Paulo

The New Orleans Saints shuffled their depth chart by signing rookie pass rusher T.J. Carter and waiving rookie left tackle Darrin Paulo.

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With just a week to go until NFL-mandated roster cuts on Sept. 5, the New Orleans Saints are embracing the spirit of competition for the final leg of training camp by shuffling the fringes of their depth chart. On Saturday, that meant a flurry of roster moves reported to the daily NFL transactions wire.

Several of these changes were expected, like the release of injured defensive lineman Jalen Dalton (waived with an injury designation; he’s likely to return to the injured reserve list). The Saints also made two official signings that reports suggested were in the works, announcing deals with CFL linebacker Wynton McManis and journeyman pass rusher Anthony Lanier.

But the Saints also signed rookie free agent T.J. Carter, a Kentucky product who set personal bests in several categories as a senior. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 289 pounds, Carter figures to compete with Lanier and veterans like Margus Hunt and Mario Edwards Jr. for the final roster spot at defensive end. He was initially signed by the Arizona Cardinals after the 2020 NFL Draft but was released in July.

To make room for Carter, the Saints waived rookie left tackle Darrin Paulo. Paulo signed with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent from Utah. He was lining up mostly on the third string in practice, suggesting he wasn’t a strong candidate to help back up All-Pro starter Terron Armstead.

Each of these players will have a handful of practice sessions to make a strong impression on the Saints coaching staff, but they’ll have to work quickly in such a brief window. Practice squad spots will be coming at a premium this year.

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