We’ve already gone over the rules for the NFL expansion draft, and now our staff writers have made their picks for which New Orleans Saints players they would nominate. Remember, the goal isn’t to protect your most valuable players. You’re choosing which players you’d be willing to lose. And because the acquiring team takes on every dollar remaining in a contract (including future signing bonus payments), it’s an opportunity to move off of some bad deals. At the same time, you don’t want to submit someone who could have real trade value.
Here’s how it shook out:
Advertisement
RG Cesar Ruiz (4 votes)
Jul 30, 2021; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints center Cesar Ruiz (51) stretches during a New Orleans Saints training camp session at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Ruiz never has met expectations since being drafted late in Round 1 back in 2020, and trading him before June (and this year’s draft) would only save the Saints $12,000. That might be worth it if they can get a premium pick back but don’t hold your breath. Instead, making him eligible for the expansion draft would take his $14.196 million salary cap hits off the books both this year and next. He hasn’t played well enough in New Orleans to justify those costs. It’s vital that the Saints get better guard play. Finding a way to move on from Ruiz is part of accomplishing that. — John Sigler
This player needs to be out of the Saints organization as soon as possible. It’s unlikely to happen during the 2026 offseason, as outright cutting Ruiz would result in a huge cap hit. Under the previous expansion rules, a team would have to absorb the bulk of the wasted salary that is Cesar Ruiz. In this scenario, let’s hope that an expansion team would want the 83 games of starting experience that Ruiz has over his six seasons, no matter how abysmal. — Bob Rose
Advertisement
This one is pretty self explanatory. Ruiz has been a negative asset on the offensive line since his extension, and moving on from him puts New Orleans in a better situation with the cap, and in a better spot with finding a different player to fill the gap. — Jeremy Trottier
Ruiz carries a $14 million cap hit, and moving on from him would provide the Saints with meaningful financial flexibility. Combined with inconsistent performance along the offensive line, he profiles as a player the team could afford to expose in an expansion draft. — Luke Loffredo
S Justin Reid (3 votes)
Jul 28, 2025; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis (56) and safety Justin Reid (21) shake hands during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The eight-year pro was solid in 2025 but he didn’t truly meet expectations as a playmaking replacement for Tyrann Mathieu. He also has salary cap hits of $11.5 million in both 2026 and 2027, with a fully-guaranteed $9.25 million base salary this season. The Saints have some promising guys in the pipeline like Jonas Sanker, Julian Blackmon, and Jordan Howden, but they could also draft Ohio State star Caleb Downs in April or add another young safety after Round 1. Either way, an expansion team picking up Reid would help them get younger, cheaper, and more dynamic at a key spot in the secondary. — John Sigler
Advertisement
This one is 100% contract based, as Reid’s deal being off the books would certainly be a positive. 2025 was an unimpressive year for the highly-paid safety, and with other options at the position, letting him go for a player on cheaper contract to get more reps is a strong choice. — Jeremy Trottier
Reid presents a tougher decision. However, with an $11 million cap hit and emerging young depth at the safety position, the Saints could consider making him available, especially after a relatively underwhelming 2025 campaign. — Luke Loffredo
WR Ronnie Bell (3 votes)
We’re running deep at wide receiver, so we’ll look there for one of the final two picks in this expansion draft. Bell was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers back in 2023 and played in all 17 games as a rookie, but his role has diminished after he bounced around the league in subsequent years. He only logged 38 snaps in two games with the Saints in 2025 so probably wouldn’t be a big loss if an expansion team drafted him. Wideouts Elijah Cooks and Damien Alford were also considered here but the team seems to like Samori Toure enough to hold onto him. — John Sigler
Advertisement
One of the benefits of a late-season waiver pickup because of injuries is a situation like this. Bell was signed by the Saints for the last two games because, frankly, there was nobody left at the position. He had 2 receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown, but was highly unlikely to be a factor for the New Orleans roster in 2026. — Bob Rose
Another fringe roster player with developmental upside. Bell flashed potential with a standout catch in the season finale, but he remains more of a depth option than a guaranteed contributor. — Luke Loffredo
LB Pete Werner (2 votes)
Jul 28, 2025; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner (20) on ball drills during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Werner hasn’t been the albatross that Ruiz is, but he is a major liability in space for the Saints defense. Demario Davis has shown that he has plenty left and can do so much more than Werner. With the potential of Danny Stutsman and Isaiah Stalbird and what looks like a strong draft class at linebacker, the Saints can afford to lose Werner to an expansion draft while making up for it in their run defense and probably getting better against the pass. — Bob Rose
Advertisement
In all honesty this is a bit of a mix between cap space and just wanting Danny Stutsman to get more reps. While Demario Davis is a free agent, ultimately, the play of Werner has been less than impressive, and getting off his deal early certainly wouldn’t hurt the team any. — Jeremy Trottier
RB Kendre Miller (2 votes)
Miller’s body has betrayed him time and again. Injuries have kept him out of action, but when he’s been available, he’s run hard and flashed big-play ability. Right now he figures to compete with Audric Estime and Devin Neal for the third or fourth spot on the depth chart behind Alvin Kamara and another running back; whether the Saints look to free agency or the 2026 draft class (top-10 prospect Jeremiyah Love, specifically) remains to be seen, but fresh legs are on the way. Miller is still recovering from a midseason ACL tear but could benefit from a fresh start somewhere else. — John Sigler
Miller certainly has talent, something he’s flashed on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, he’s only flashed it because he’s too rarely on the field. Miller has played in only 20 of a possible 51 games over his three years because of injuries. The Saints need an infusion of talent in their backfield this offseason, but clearly can’t count on Kendre Miller. It’s time for a fresh start for both Miller and New Orleans. — Bob Rose
Advertisement
RB Alvin Kamara (1 vote)
Jul 28, 2025; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) on a running play during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
As much as I would like to keep Kamara a Saint for life, having the opportunity to move off his contract with no real negative effect would be huge, and would provide the team an opportunity to take another running back, which they may do this spring anyways. As great of a player as he once was, it may be better to let him walk and find a new option. — Jeremy Trottier
DT Nathan Shepherd (1 vote)
Shepherd is kind of just the veteran who should be replaced type of pick for this. As solid as he was in 2025, he just doesn’t offer a ton compared to the other defensive tackles on the depth chart. With Vernon Broughton looking to get some reps in 2026, as well as Khristian Boyd, it may be worth letting him go. — Jeremy Trottier
Advertisement
DT Davon Godchaux (1 vote)
At 31 years old and coming off a below-average season, Godchaux is a logical cap casualty candidate. His $7 million cap hit next season makes him a practical option if the Saints are looking to create additional financial room. — Luke Loffredo
CB Dalys Beanum (1 vote)
Same philosophy here — there’s a ton of cornerbacks under contract for 2026, so we can take the hit if Beanum gets claimed. The Saints signed him as an undrafted rookie from South Dakota State last year (guaranteeing just $25,000) and kept him on the practice squad all season. He’s got NFL size but we just haven’t seen anything from him yet. Really this came down to two corners, with Jayden Price being considered, but Price has flexibility to cover the slot. That inside-out versatility could be needed if Alontae Taylor leaves in free agency, so Beanum was the pick instead. — John Sigler
Advertisement
CB Jayden Price (1 vote)
Currently viewed as a practice-squad level player, Price faces long odds to secure a roster spot. He would be a low-risk developmental option for an expansion franchise. — Luke Loffredo
CB Isaac Yiadom (1 vote)
After one season away, Yiadom returned to the Saints on a three-year contract last offseason. He didn’t add what was expected to the defense, with the unit getting better after benching him in favor of rookie Quincy Riley. Yiadom played only 7 defensive snaps over the last 10 games. Isaac Yiadom can provide decent depth in limited reps for a secondary, but he’s expendable because of the talent, depth, and youth the Saints have here. — Bob Rose
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Staff picks: Which Saints players we’d submit for NFL expansion draft