The New Orleans Saints made a roster move that turned a practice-squad climb into a real payday, promoting rookie running back CJ Donaldson to the 53-man roster.
The move stands out because Donaldson is the only member of New Orleans’ undrafted free agent class to reach the active roster. That’s especially notable with Alvin Kamara set to return from injury in Week 2, leaving fewer carries to sort out in a backfield that also includes Travis Etienne Jr. and Kendre Miller.
Donaldson came to the Saints as a rookie free agent out of Ohio State and got $90,000 in guarantees, which placed him fifth in the team’s undrafted class. Offensive linemen Alex Wollschlaeger and Alan Herron both landed more, with $277,500 and $272,500 respectively, while defensive end Michael Heldman got $267,500 and tight end Cody Hardy received $170,000. Wollschlaeger and Herron later re-signed to the practice squad, Heldman was released from injured reserve, and Hardy was not brought back after roster cuts.
Now Donaldson is in line for a much better week-to-week check. On the practice squad, he was earning the NFL minimum at $13,750 per week.
On the 53-man roster, that minimum jumps to $49,167 each week. Two weeks on the active roster would match the money he got just to sign with the Saints.
There’s also a football reason this promotion happened. Donaldson has shown some utility as a fullback and a movable piece in the offense, including in Sunday’s season-opener against the Detroit Lions.
He’s not a Taysom Hill replacement - nothing really is - but he’s been used as a lead blocker, a motion piece out of the backfield, and even lined up at tight end before shifting to fullback for a dive handoff. That versatility has started to give him a lane.
To make room, the Saints placed long snapper Zach Wood on injured reserve. New Orleans then signed veteran long snapper Scott Daly to the practice squad to handle the snapping duties on Sunday.
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