New Orleans Saints release Emmanuel Sanders

The New Orleans Saints are going on a cutting spree, and it’s brutal to see. While many of these players haven’t been in the Big Easy long enough to call them fan favorites, there was optimism that the team could at least get something back for their services.

After getting word that the team was cutting linebacker Kwon Alexander earlier in the day, saving around $13 million, the Saints have also moved to release wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. New Orleans was looking to trade Sanders per MMQB’s Albert Breer.

They clearly couldn’t find much of a market for him.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the New Orleans Saints have released wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders after just one season together.

The Saints signed Sanders to a two-year, $16 million deal last offseason. After a season of disappointment, New Orleans has decided to move on. It really shouldn’t shock anyone that this move was made. The Saints saved $6.5 million in cap space.

Given the trend the Saints have been following, they’ve managed to clear some cap from players not overly necessary to the team’s success. Sanders, who had 726 yards on 61 receptions, wasn’t crucial to the team’s performance.

Sanders was expected to have a bigger role in the offense upon coming to New Orleans.

With All-Pro returner Deonte Harris and Marques Callaway both rising threats for New Orleans, having Sanders as that solid veteran No. 2 receiver just wasn’t necessary anymore. It was a good run for Sanders in the Big Easy, and the former Pro Bowler will easily find himself a new home.

That said, the Saints aren’t done yet as they’re still not under the newly-set NFL cap.

Latavius Murray could be up on the cutting block as both Sanders and Murray, along with Alexander, were mentioned by Breer. Murray should have a market, but it also feels more likely the Saints make the quick moves and cut ties with him as well.