The New Orleans Saints have concluded an embarrassing 2024 season, finishing the year at the bottom of the NFC South with a 5-12 record. Now, the franchise prepares for one of the most important offseasons in the team’s history.
After firing Dennis Allen midway through the season, New Orleans will soon start a coaching search. Additionally, the organization needs to commit to a rebuild so the Saints can return to being a contender. A part of that process will be saying farewell to some players.
While the offseason is unpredictable, there are a few players on the roster who have likely played their last game with New Orleans. For one reason or another, here are six players that won’t be back with the Saints in 2025.
Cam Jordan won’t be back with the Saints in 2025
This will likely be the biggest departure of the offseason, and the most heartbreaking one. Unfortunately, the writing has been on the wall. After 14 years in New Orleans, and dominating his way to become the Saints all-time sack leader, Cam Jordan’s time with the team is likely coming to an end.
Jordan was honest about this possibility after New Orleans’ last home game of the season in Week 17. He spent a ton of time with fans and family on the field, as if he knew it was his last time. Following the game, he made it clear he plans to play next season regardless of if the Saints won’t him back.
He only has one season left on his contract, but with a $20 million cap hit. With the Saints likely embarking on a rebuild his offseason, moving on from Jordan could be a big step in that process.
Chase Young won’t be back with the Saints in 2025
During the 2024 offseason, Chase Young was the big signing in New Orleans. The Saints gave him a one-year prove it deal, and the veteran defensive end accepted the deal, hoping to restore his value around the league. After a full season in New Orleans, the belief is he did that.
Young played in all 17 games, recording 5.5 sacks, 31 tackles, eight for a loss, and a lot of pressures. While Young wasn’t necessarily a game wrecker, and the Saints didn’t have a successful season, he showed he can still consistently get after quarterbacks, and a lot of teams want that. There will likely be teams with a brighter future than New Orleans willing to pay Young more than the Saints could, and that’s why his tenure is likely ending after just a year.
Payton Turner won’t be back with the Saints in 2025
New Orleans selected Payton Turner in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, with hopes that he’d be an impact edge defender for the franchise. Four years later, Turner is considered one of the most underwhelming picks in recent Saints memory.
The defensive end has battled with injuries through his career, playing in 15 total games in his first three years. He finally put together a healthy season in 2024, playing in 16 games, but he didn’t produce much, recording just 21 tackles and two sacks.
With Turner no longer under contract, it wouldn’t make sense for New Orleans to bring him back.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling won’t be back with the Saints in 2025
Marquez Valdes-Scantling kept New Orleans’ wide receiver room afloat after some unfortunate injuries. After Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed were sidelined for the year, Valdes-Scantling was signed, and he emerged as a force, catching 17 passes for 385 yards and four touchdowns.
Despite his contributions, he’s unlikely to be back in New Orleans. He’ll enter free agency this offseason, and the Saints will turn back to Olave, Shaheed, and other young wideouts under contract. Valdes-Scantling has proved to other teams, though, he still has a lot to give.
John Ridgeway III won’t be back with the Saints in 2025
Early in the season, New Orleans traded with the Washington Commanders for defensive tackle John Ridgeway III. The Saints ultimately got that pick back when they sent Marshon Lattimore to Washington, and that’s good, because Ridgeway hasn’t provided the team much.
He recorded just 15 tackles all season in limited snaps. While he has one, very affordable season left on his rookie contract, the Saints could still decide to let him go, as they have other young defensive tackles they can develop.
Jamaal Williams won’t be back with the Saints in 2025
New Orleans signed Jamaal Williams during the 2024 offseason, and the veteran running back was coming off a season with the Detroit Lions where he rushed for 1,066 yards, and led the league with 17 rushing touchdowns. The thought was he’d make a great duo with Alvin Kamara.
That didn’t happen at all. Instead, Williams has had two underwhelming seasons. This year, he carried the ball just 48 times for 164 yards and one touchdown. Even when injuries hit the Saints backfield, Williams struggled to get carries. Clearly, New Orleans is comfortable moving forward without him.