New Orleans Saints’ recent decision officially costs another young player his job in latest roster shuffle for Kellen Moore

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Adam Holt | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 4:17 PM ET

The roster shuffle around the NFL will begin to ramp up over the next couple of months. For the New Orleans Saints, they are already making a move for their offense. They've decided to go ahead and cut ties with a young player during a position battle.

Saints waive young running back

According to Mike Garafolo, the Saints are waiving running back Xazavian Valladay. He is 26 years old.

The #Saints are waiving RB Xazavian Valladay. He made plays this spring but the backfield was crowded in New Orleans and the team needed to make room for other positions. The former undrafted free agent heads to the waiver wire. pic.twitter.com/mTkc87Jc2u
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 20, 2025

Valladay hasn't logged a regular-season appearance since he suited up for one game with the Jets in 2023, playing no snaps on offense and 12 snaps on special teams. He spent time on New York and New Orleans' practice squads last season and will now search around the league to compete. -- CBS Sports

Valladay always felt like one of the "odd men out" in the RB room for New Orleans, particularly after a recent roster addition.

The Saints also have rookie Devin Neal, veteran Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kendre Miller, among others as depth options behind Alvin Kamara.

There isn't a true outcome or route to all of those players landing on the active roster. It remains to be seen who can win those roles to backup Kamara, but Valladay will get a new opportunity to play elsewhere, potentially.

Move comes after addition of Cam Akers

The Saints added running back Cam Akers last week. He tried out, and clearly, he impressed Kellen Moore's coaching staff.

Akers is right in the mix to backup Alvin Kamara, and he's coming into a good situation. The options of Miller and Edwards-Helaire don't have strong ties to the new coaching staff. Devin Neal is the exception there since New Orleans just selected him in this year's NFL Draft.