The New Orleans Saints have completed one of the most difficult stages of the NFL calendar, reducing their roster to the initial 53 players who will begin the 2026 regular season.
On this edition of The Sports Coma with Big Q, Big Q breaks down the Saints’ biggest roster decisions, the players who earned jobs, the surprising cuts and the positions New Orleans may still address through the waiver wire.
Watch the complete breakdown below:
Saints Cut-Day Headlines
The Saints made several noteworthy decisions while assembling coach Kellen Moore’s second regular-season roster in New Orleans.
Among the biggest developments:
New Orleans kept three quarterbacks: Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson.
The Saints released running back Zamir White shortly after acquiring him in a trade.
Rookie wide receivers Barion Brown and Bryce Lance earned roster spots.
Kevin Austin Jr. also survived a competitive wide receiver battle.
Bub Means and Trey Palmer were among the receivers waived.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. officially made the roster as a safety.
The Saints kept four tight ends.
Veteran Daniel Carlson won the kicking job.
Kickers Tanner Brown and Charlie Smyth were waived.
First-round receiver Jordyn Tyson was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return.
Linebacker Jaylan Ford was also designated to return from injured reserve.
New Orleans Saints’ Initial 53-Man Roster
Quarterbacks
Tyler Shough
Spencer Rattler
Zach Wilson
New Orleans elected to keep its entire veteran quarterback room intact. Shough enters the season as the expected starter, while Rattler and Wilson provide the Saints with two experienced backup options.
Running Backs
Travis Etienne Jr.
Alvin Kamara
Kendre Miller
Audric Estimé
The release of Zamir White was one of the most surprising decisions of cut day. New Orleans had recently acquired White in a trade with San Francisco, but the veteran was unable to secure a place in a crowded backfield.
Devin Neal was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Wide Receivers
Chris Olave
Devaughn Vele
Barion Brown
Bryce Lance
Kevin Austin Jr.
The Saints will begin the year with five active wide receivers. Brown’s speed and return ability helped him secure a position, while Lance and Austin emerged from a deep group of roster candidates.
Jordyn Tyson was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return. Mason Tipton begins the season on the physically unable to perform list, while Brock Rechsteiner is on the reserve/suspended list.
Tight Ends
Juwan Johnson
Noah Fant
Oscar Delp
Treyton Welch
New Orleans kept four tight ends, giving the offense a mixture of veteran receiving ability, blocking depth and developmental upside.
Offensive Line
Kelvin Banks Jr.
David Edwards
Erik McCoy
Cesar Ruiz
Taliese Fuaga
Asim Richards
Jeremiah Wright
William Sherman
The Saints kept eight offensive linemen on the initial roster. The starting unit has talent, but the limited number of reserves could make offensive-line depth a priority on the waiver wire.
Barry Wesley was placed on injured reserve.
Defensive Roster
Edge Defenders
Chase Young
Carl Granderson
Cameron Jordan
Tyree Wilson
Anfernee Jennings
This group gives defensive coordinator Brandon Staley several different pass-rushing options. Jordan remains the veteran leader, while Young, Granderson and Wilson bring size and athleticism off the edge.
Mike Heldman was placed on injured reserve.
Defensive Line
Davon Godchaux
Vernon Broughton
Christen Miller
Nathan Shepherd
John Ridgeway III
Khristian Boyd
The Saints invested heavily in rebuilding the interior of their defensive front. Rookie Christen Miller made the team despite dealing with an injury during training camp.
Linebackers
Kaden Elliss
Pete Werner
Danny Stutsman
Isaiah Stalbird
Chris Rumph II
Jaylan Ford was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, giving the Saints another potential contributor later in the season.
Cornerbacks
Kool-Aid McKinstry
Quincy Riley
Martin Emerson Jr.
Jayden Price
Mike Reid
New Orleans moved forward with a young cornerback room after releasing veterans Michael Davis and Isaac Yiadom.
Dalys Beanum and David Long Jr. were placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Safeties
Justin Reid
Julian Blackmon
Jonas Sanker
Jordan Howden
Lorenzo Styles Jr.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. officially earned a spot at safety after making the transition from wide receiver. His athletic ability and special-teams value gave the Saints another versatile young defensive back.
Specialists
Kicker: Daniel Carlson
Punter: Ryan Wright
Long snapper: Zach Wood
The kicking competition ended with the Saints choosing former All-Pro Daniel Carlson. Tanner Brown and Charlie Smyth were both waived during the final roster reduction.
Contracts Terminated
The Saints terminated the contracts of four vested veterans:
S Terrell Burgess
CB Michael Davis
RB Zamir White
CB Isaac Yiadom
Because these players are vested veterans, they became free agents immediately instead of passing through the waiver system.
Players Waived During the Final Reduction
New Orleans waived the following 15 players:
K Tanner Brown
DL Myles Cole
WR Jalen Cropper
EDGE Fadil Diggs
RB CJ Donaldson
CB TJ Hall Jr.
TE Cody Hardy
OT Alan Herron
OT Easton Kilty
WR Trey Palmer
G Torricelli Simpkins III
LB Jackson Sirmon
K Charlie Smyth
DL Jay’Viar Suggs
OT Alex Wollschlaeger
The Saints had also waived 10 players during the first wave of roster reductions:
WR Ronnie Bell
S Elliott Davison
QB Hunter Dekkers
WR Bub Means
TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
EDGE Garrett Nelson
DL Kahlil Saunders
DL Brien Taylor
OL Xavier Truss
EDGE Malakai Williams
Several waived players could return to New Orleans once the Saints begin assembling their practice squad.
The Biggest Saints Cut-Day Surprises
Zamir White’s Short Stay Ends
White’s release stands out because New Orleans acquired him only days before the roster deadline. The decision indicates that the Saints were more comfortable moving forward with Etienne, Kamara, Miller and Estimé.
Three Quarterbacks Survive
Keeping Shough, Rattler and Wilson provides insurance at the NFL’s most important position. It could also leave the door open for a future trade if another team suffers an injury at quarterback.
Young Receivers Win Roster Spots
Brown, Lance and Austin outlasted several experienced competitors. However, the position remains worth watching while Tyson recovers from his hamstring injury.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. Completes His Transition
Styles entered the NFL after playing both wide receiver and defensive back in college. His roster spot at safety represents one of the best developmental stories from Saints training camp.
This Roster Is Not Finished
The initial 53-man roster is only the first version of the Saints’ regular-season team.
New Orleans can submit waiver claims, sign available veterans and move players between the active roster and practice squad. The Saints should continue examining available offensive linemen, defensive backs, receivers and special-teams contributors.
With a favorable position in the waiver order, New Orleans could have an opportunity to add meaningful depth before Week 1.
Join the Who Dat Nation
Which Saints roster decision surprised you the most? Did the team keep the right players, and which cut player should return on the practice squad?
Watch Big Q’s complete Saints Cut Day breakdown, leave your thoughts in the comments and subscribe for year-round Saints news, analysis and live shows.
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