The New Orleans Saints made a flurry of personnel moves on Monday. The moves came on the heels of the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend.
On Monday afternoon, Nick Underhill of neworleans.football was the first to report that the Saints had signed veteran wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. Later in the afternoon, Underhill and neworleans.football went on to report that New Orleans added two more players.
Oct 26, 2020; Los Angeles Rams safety Terrell Burgess (26) trips up Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84). Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Oct 26, 2020; Los Angeles Rams safety Terrell Burgess (26) trips up Chicago Bears wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84). Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
After a tryout with the team over the weekend, the Saints are signing veteran safety Terrell Burgess. Pending the results of a physical, according to Mike Triplett of neworleans.football, New Orleans also intends on signing undrafted rookies quarterback Hunter Dekkers out of Iowa State.
Burgess, 26, was a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Utah by the Los Angeles Rams. He was with the Rams until midway through the 2022 season, appearing in 30 games.
After being released by Los Angeles during the 2022 campaign, Burgess finished that season with the Giants. He signed with Washington in 2023, where he'd appear in 12 contests. The Buffalo Bills signed Burgess last year, but he was placed on injured reserve during training camp.
Brandon Staley was defensive coordinator of the Rams when they drafted Burgess in 2020. Staley is entering his first year as the defensive coordinator for the Saints.
Oct 15, 2022; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) throws a pass against the Texas Longhorns. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Oct 15, 2022; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) throws a pass against the Texas Longhorns. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Dekkers, who turns 24 in July, began his collegiate career at Iowa State in 2020. He was the starter for the Cyclones in 2022, when he led the Big 12 in attempts, completions, and completion percentage (66.1%) while throwing for 3,044 yards with 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Dekkers stepped away from Iowa State and was out of football completely in 2023. He played last season for the Iowa Western Reivers, a community college.
To make room for Burgess and Dekkers on the training camp roster, neworleans.football reports that the Saints are releasing running back Jordan Mims and defensive back Millard Bradford.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Hunter Dekkers (18) during rookie minicamp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
New Orleans Saints quarterback Hunter Dekkers (18) during rookie minicamp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Mims was picked up by the Saints in the late summer of 2023 after he was released by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie. He'd been mostly on the Saints practice squad over the last two years. Mims did see action in 11 games last season, getting 20 rushes for 70 yards and catching 12 passes for 71 yards.
Bradford made the Saints practice squad as an undrafted rookie out of TCU last season. He'd appear in three contests, with all of his snaps coming on special teams.