Saints plan to let Travaris Cadet, Restricted Free Agents Walk

Oct 5, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Travaris Cadet (39) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter of a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

According to Mike Triplett, the New Orleans Saints have no plan to extend tender offers to their restricted free agents before the start of the new league year. Those restricted free agents are defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker, running back Travaris Cadet and offensive tackle Bryce Harris.

On paper, this makes financial sense. The Saints need to get under the salary cap by March 10th and shouldn’t be adding any contracts until they can get under the cap. They can resign the trio later for less money instead of the $1.54 million each would receive with a tendered offer.

Usually the team of a restricted free agent would have first refusal rights if another team was interested in the player, but the Saints refuse these rights by not making a minimum offer of $1.54 million.

Some reports suggest that the Saints only need to restructure a few contracts in order to be comfortably under the cap to pursue free agents to start rebuilding the team.

Cadet seems to be the likely replacement for veteran Pierre Thomas’ role in the offensive as a receiving back. While Thomas still has not been picked up by another team, the thought is that he has too much value for the Saints to be able to scoop him up after dealing with their cap woes.

Thomas’ role as a receiving back and screen back was essential to the New Orleans Saints offensive scheme, making up for their lack of a hard-nosed running game.

Cadet or another back like him will be essential to keeping the Saints high-powered offensive potent. Cadet caught 38 passes, for 296 yards and a touchdown in 2014.

Tyrunn Walker’s absence would add more uncertainty at the defensive line position, a line that struggled to provide consistent pressure on the quarterback last year. Walker hasn’t wowed in his limited appearances but he has been a steady contributor and is considered a player on the rise.

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