5 New Orleans Saints players who won't be back in 2024

2. Lynn Bowden, WR/RB

Wide receiver is an intriguing position for the Saints, because they have a clear no. 1 in Chris Olave. But, after Olave, it will be interesting to see where the Saints go. Michael Thomas is still under contract for 2024 and his dead money is over $18 million if cut or just $10 million if kept in his final year. Still, he is a shell of his former self when healthy.

Rashid Shaheed came alive as the second fiddle to Olave and actually played very well. He is an impending free agent and, although New Orleans is strapped for cash, I would hope they can figure out a way to bring him back. It helps that he's an exclusive rights free agent, so hopefully that works in their favor.

Lynn Bowden, though, is not a guy I think the Saints are going to bring back. He was rarely used this season and, sadly enough, I believe it is way past due to call him a draft bust. A former third-round pick, Bowden came into the league as someone with a lot of hype because of his speed and ultra-shifty skill set. Yet, he hasn't panned out, no matter where he's gone.

The Saints need to find stability in the wide receiver room in spots 3-6, and Bowden isn't going to give them that. On 32 percent of offensive snaps played this year, Bowden touched the ball just 16 times and did not score.