New Orleans Saints Lead NFL in Cap Space Gained After June 1st Roster Moves

The big boost to the team's cap space is thanks to the retirements of All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramczyk and veteran quarterback Derek Carr. Carr's cap hit will drop from $20.46 million to either $13.458 million or $19.207 million pending the league's decision on the signing bonus Carr agreed to return. 

Ramczyk's retirement is expected to return $1.25 million to the team with his dead money cap at $11.08 million. 

The Saints have remained disciplined during free agency and aren't expected to use their newly acquired money to make multiple big moves. New Orleans has been working towards getting cap-compliant for the 2026 offseason and will likely use their estimated $30 million in cap space to roll over in 2026.

Despite the team's discipline in spending, there are multiple holes in the roster and the Saints could look to address their depth. 

The biggest name associated with New Orleans is free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. who the team brought in for a visit in May. Samuel Jr. is scheduled to get a check-up in July and after could be a coveted free agent that New Orleans could target. 

The Saints are in the midst of a soft rebuild and having the money roll over for the 2026 offseason is important. If Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough end up being the team's quarterback of the future, having money to spend while their young quarterback is on a rookie contract will be pivotal to competing soon.