Saints: 4 cut candidates on New Orleans’ roster entering 2024 offseason

After the addition of former Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr, the New Orleans Saints entered the 2023 season as AFC South favorites. Following a season with considerable highs and lows, the Saints fell short of that goal — narrowly missing out on a playoff spot after a 9-8 campaign.

The 9-8 record does not tell the entire story. The offense sputtered through inconsistency, struggling to turn yards into points. The Superdome crowd frequently booed Carr, who was often visibly frustrated. Seven of the team’s nine wins came against teams that finished with 10 or more losses, but the inability to beat future playoff teams like the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams in close contests ultimately kept this squad out of the postseason.

Acquisitions are always the focus once the season ends, but some of the toughest decisions are internal debates over which veteran players to cut to save money. The Saints are currently $82 million over the salary cap for 2024 — $31 million more than any other NFL team — and face some especially difficult choices before the 2024 season begins. Here are the top three cut candidates for the Saints this offseason.

Taysom Hill (Tight End)

Amidst the mess that was the Saints offense this season, one of the forgotten players was Taysom Hill. Hill had four games with at least 10 touches in 2023 but also six games with four touches or fewer. That level of offensive involvement does not equal the $10 million salary Hill is pulling in yearly. The Saints save $10 million in cap space by cutting Taysom Hill after June 1, leaving the team with a dead cap hit of just $5.7 million. Given Hill’s uncertain role in the Saints offense, a departure from the Bayou seems likely this offseason.

Demario Davis (Inside Linebacker)

Five straight All-Pro nominations might not be enough for Demario Davis to play out the final year of his Saint contract. The 35-year-old carries an $18 million cap hit this season, and the Saints would save $12 million by cutting him after June 1. Davis is still one of the best inside linebackers in the league, but New Orleans will be in full cost-cutting mode this offseason as the team looks to break out of the red.