The New Orleans Saints have their initial 53-man roster.
The Saints announced the full list of roster moves Tuesday afternoon, about an hour before the NFL's 3 p.m. deadline.
There were a few surprises among the cuts, though as coach Kellen Moore indicated last week, the roster is fluid and things will change in the coming days after teams have had a chance to put in waiver claims.
Here is the full list of Saints moves.
Waived or released
TE Treyton Welch
Welch came on strong late in training camp and preseason, leading all Saints tight ends in the preseason with six catches for 65 yards.
DE Isaiah Foskey
The Saints selected Foskey in the second round of the 2023 draft, but in 27 NFL games, the defensive end recorded 0 sacks and 0 quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Reference. He also did not appear to be a good fit for the new defensive scheme.
WR Kevin Austin
One of the few receivers on the roster with some size (6-2, 200), Austin has had some promising moments with the Saints — including some in regular season games — but was clearly on the outside looking in in the receiver corps.
QB Jake Haener
For the entirety of training camp, Kellen Moore insisted the competition to be the Saints' starting quarterback had three entrants, but Haener's snaps dwindled in practice, and his only preseason action in the final two games was mop-up duty against Denver. Haener could end up on the practice squad, but the Saints also might scour other teams' cuts to find their third quarterback.
LB D'Marco Jackson
The 2022 fifth-round pick has played a lot of football for the Saints the last couple of seasons, mostly as a special teamer. But after starting the first two preseason games, he appeared to lose his spot in the rotation to Jaylan Ford.
CB Dalys Beanum
DT Jayden Peevy
OL Easton Kilty
Kilty, an undrafted rookie free agent, did not make the roster despite a glut of injuries along the interior of the offensive line.
OL Shane Lemieux
Lemieux spent last season with the Saints, but joined the team midway through training camp after the team suffered several injuries along the offensive line interior.
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The former LSU standout and Baton Rouge native didn't make the cut at running back, where the Saints have Alvin Kamara and two recent draft picks in Kendre Miller (2023 third round) and Devin Neal (2025 sixth round).
DE Jonah Williams
One of the few players on the defense who'd played under Brandon Staley before, Williams would be an ideal practice squad candidate for the Saints.
S Terrell Burgess
Burgess had some prior experience with Brandon Staley and had a few flashes in training camp, but missed an extended period of time with an undisclosed injury. As a vested veteran, he will not have to clear waivers and could be back on the practice squad.
WR Dante Pettis
Pettis was effectively in a battle with fellow veteran Cedrick Wilson for the final roster spot at receiver. Though Pettis showed more as a pass catcher and adds value as a return man, Wilson brings an element of size the Saints don't have much of.
S Elliott Davison
CB Jayden Price
LB Nephi Sewell
K Charlie Smyth
Smyth had a rough start to training camp, but bounced back in the preseason and appears to be back on track. If he clears waivers, the Saints can bring him back on the practice squad without having him count against the 16-man limit, as he's an international player.
RB Marcus Yarns
To P.U.P.
TE Taysom Hill
TE Foster Moreau
To injured reserve
OT Landon Young
Young will unfortunately miss the 2025 regular season after he suffered an ankle injury in the Saints' preseason finale. Coach Kellen Moore said Tuesday that Young will require surgery.
DT John Ridgeway (designated to return)
Ridgeway injured his pectoral muscle in the Saints' second preseason game but is reportedly expected to return during the earlier portion of the season.
OT Barry Wesley (designated to return)