The New Orleans Saints were the favorites in the AFC South heading into the 2023 season after adding former QB Derek Carr from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Saints nearly missed out on a postseason spot following a 9-8 season, falling short of that objective after a season marked by significant highs and lows.
The story is not fully revealed by the 9-8 record. The offense faltered due of consistency, finding it difficult to convert yards gained into points. Carr, who was frequently clearly frustrated, was regularly booed by the Superdome crowd. Though the team managed seven victories out of nine games played, they were eventually unable to advance to the postseason due to their failure to defeat future playoff teams in close games, such as the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams.
Once the season is finished, acquisitions take center stage, but internally, decisions about which senior players to bench in order to save money might be the most difficult. The Saints, who are currently $31 million more than any other NFL team in 2024 at $82 million above the salary cap, will have to make some really tough decisions before the 2024 season even starts. The Saints’ top three cut candidates from the offseason are listed below.
Taysom Hill (Tight End)
Taysom Hill was one of the players that went unnoticed this season amidst the disaster that was the Saints offense. In 2023, Hill recorded four games with ten touches or more, but he also had six games with four touches or less. That degree of offensive involvement is not commensurate with Hill’s $10 million annual pay. By removing Taysom Hill after June 1, the Saints are able to save $10 million in cap space, leaving them with a dead cap charge of just $5.7 million. It appears likely that Hill will leave the Bayou this offseason given his ambiguous role in the Saints offense.
Demario Davis (Inside Linebacker)
It may not be enough for Demario Davis to finish the last year of his Saints contract after five consecutive All-Pro nominations. If the Saints decide to cut the 35-year-old after June 1, they will save $12 million against his $18 million salary cap charge for this season. Although Davis is one of the league’s top inside linebackers, New Orleans will be heavily slashing costs in the offseason as they attempt to escape the red zone.
Alvin Kamara (Running Back)
After three seasons of a five-year, $75 million contract, Alvin Kamara has made it quite evident that he is not the same player he was with the Saints. Over the previous three years, Kamara averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and 4.7 yards per touch from scrimmage. Kamara has averaged 5.0 yards per carry and 6.2 yards per touch in his previous four seasons.
As his time as an NFL running back draws to an end, 29-year-old Kamara will be starting his ninth season this autumn. Removing Alvin Kamara after June 1st would save the team approximately $19 million in the following season and $11.8 million this year. After one of his least productive seasons to date, the Saints’ running back situation makes it unlikely that the team will give him a big deal in 2024.
Ryan Ramczyk (Offensive Tackle)
The Saints may also have to make a tough decision about outstanding right tackle Ryan Ramczyk this offseason. Entering the third year of a five-year contract, the 29-year-old has the second-highest cap hit on the team ($29 million), behind only Derek Carr. In addition to saving the organization $10 million in 2024 and the same amount in 2025, cutting Ramczyk frees up $16 million in dead cap space.
Despite being a three-time All-Pro, Ramczyk hasn’t received AP recognition since the 2020 campaign. The Saints have made another difficult decision in cutting Ramczyk, but their $82 million salary cap shortfall will not go away on its own.
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