The Saints have their initial 53-man roster set, but that doesn’t mean the roster churn is done. Once the waiver process wraps up, New Orleans can start piecing together a practice squad, with one possible extra slot available through the International Player Pathway program. A few of the players cut this week could still end up back in the building, and these ten look like the strongest candidates if they make it through waivers or are free to sign.
Zamir White is near the top of that group. He had only a handful of days to absorb the offense after arriving in a trade from the San Francisco 49ers, but he still flashed in the preseason finale against the Dallas Cowboys, finishing with four carries for 46 yards and an 11-yard touchdown.
New Orleans has younger backs on the roster, but White’s 45 games played and nine starts give the Saints a steady emergency option, especially with injuries piling up in the backfield. Alvin Kamara, Ty Chandler, and Devin Neal are just a few of the names dealing with injuries.
Kicker Charlie Smyth may be the simplest call on the board. He remains part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program, which lets the Saints carry him as an extra practice squad player without using one of the regular spots. Daniel Carlson’s arrival ended Smyth’s run at the starting job, but he still went 12-of-16 on field goals over the final six games of 2025, including four makes from at least 50 yards, and he was perfect on all 13 extra-point tries.
Hunter Dekkers also makes sense as a developmental holdover. In his first NFL preseason action, he completed 8-of-15 passes for 69 yards and helped push a late drive to Jacksonville's 2-yard line. He spent last season on New Orleans' practice squad before getting more reps in the UFL, and that familiarity with the offense gives him a real edge if the Saints want a quarterback they already know.
Bub Means put together one of the Saints’ best individual preseason showings, catching four passes for 77 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars, with gains of 28 and 37 yards. Injuries have limited the former fifth-round pick to seven regular-season games, but the size and vertical burst are still there. If he clears waivers, New Orleans should keep working with him.
The offensive line group includes two more names worth stashing. Alan Herron started all 24 games at right tackle over two seasons at Maryland and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition in 2025. The undrafted rookie also got invites to the NFL Scouting Combine and the Senior Bowl, and the practice squad would give the Saints time to sharpen his technique while keeping a young tackle in the pipeline.
Xavier Truss already has a year in the organization, which matters. He played in seven games as a rookie, mostly on special teams, and at 6-foot-7, 320 pounds he has the size to handle tackle or guard. That kind of versatility can matter quickly if injuries start hitting the Saints’ offensive line.
On defense, Terrell Burgess is the kind of veteran depth piece teams like to keep close. He played in 16 games last season, finishing with 15 tackles and three pass breakups, and he already knows Brandon Staley's defense. He can help in multiple spots and on special teams, which makes him a strong insurance option if another opportunity doesn’t come his way.
Isaac Yiadom brings a much bigger body of work than most practice-squad corners. He has appeared in 118 games with 34 career starts, and he also played in 14 games for New Orleans last season. That kind of experience can come in handy fast if the Saints need help on defense or coverage units.
Josh Palmer is another receiver who would make sense to keep nearby. He has 51 catches for 557 yards and four touchdowns in 32 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and his vertical speed plus punt-return experience give him a few different ways to help. With Jordyn Tyson starting the season on injured reserve, Palmer could be especially useful depth.
The last name on the list is T.J. Hall Jr., the Saints’ final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
One camp shouldn’t be enough to walk away from that investment. Hall posted 47 tackles and an interception in his final season at Iowa, and the practice squad would give him time to clean up his coverage work while building toward a role on special teams.
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Saints Make Another Receiver Move Fans Will Be Watching Closely
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For New Orleans, the decision underscores how fluid the back end of the depth chart can be this time of year, especially at a position where roster spots are always in demand. If Austin goes unclaimed, the Saints would have the option to bring him back on the practice squad, keeping him in the building even after this latest round of shuffling. [Read more 🡒]