The New Orleans Saints cut their roster down to 53 in preparation for the upcoming 2022 season. General Manager Mickey Loomis terminated the contracts of six players and waived the following 12 players in roster moves that was necessary with the deadline coming today. The Saints next still will be to assess which 16 players will makeup the practice squad and that deadline is on Wednesday at 12 p.m. CT. With that, here are some of the notable players that were cut loose by New Orleans:
Ian Book, Quarterback
The fourth-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft wasn’t a fan favorite amongst Saints fans for his performance in his first regular season start against the Dolphins last year and in the preseason.
Book completed 42 of 65 passes this preseason for 315 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He would add 121 rushing yards in the three-game slate in the preseason.
According to Ian Rapoport, Book will likely be a practice squad target assuming he clears waivers. Other teams will get a chance to sign the 24-year old quarterback, but if other teams pass on him it is expected that the Saints will make Book a primary target for the practice squad. We will have to see if New Orleans elects to sign him to the practice squad, but as of now the active quarterbacks on the roster are Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton.
The #Saints are releasing QB Ian Book, source said. He is a practice squad target if he clears waivers and should have some interest.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2022
Kirk Merritt, Wide Receiver
The Destrehan native was part of the numerous cuts today for New Orleans in order to get to limit of having a 53-man roster. Merritt showed some flashes throughout camp and in preseason action. He would have some big catches in camp and would have some big plays in the three-game slate in the preseason.
Saints waived WR Kirk Merritt, per source
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 30, 2022
Merritt caught six of his eight passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. It is hard not to see Merritt at least get a chance with the Saints practice squad with his showing both in practice and during game action.
The Saints have a lot of talent at the wide receiver room, especially with the new additions in the offseason. The 25-year old wide reciever showed bursts in the special teams department with a 59-yard kickoff return against the Green Bay Packers during the Saints second preseason game. With Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, Chris Olave, Deonte Harty and Marquez Callaway all locks to make the roster it was a tough decision to make for Loomis.
Jon Bostic, Linebacker
Bostic joined the Saints in the offseason as a free-agent signing, but his stint with the black and gold became a short one. The veteran linebacker had spent his three previous seasons with the Washington Commanders before stepping onto the scene in New Orleans.
#Saints LB Zack Baun has been confirmed ON the team, as late-addition to the preseason LB Jon Bostic has been waived.
— Jack Culotta, Jr. (@TalkCulotta) August 30, 2022
The 31-year old had a chance to step in to a linebacker core that was in need of depth, but Bostic didn’t do enough to impress the Saints. New Orleans depth chart at the linebacker position now consists of Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Kaden Ellis, Zack Baun and Andrew Dowell.
Bostic appeared in four games last year with Washington before suffering a season ending injury. His best season was in 2020 where he racked up a career-high 118 tackles and 3.0 sacks.
Taco Charlton, Defensive End
Like Bostic, Charlton’s stint in New Orleans was a short one. The Saints brought in the veteran defensive end back in April. The first-round draft pick for the Dallas Cowboys in 2017 has bounced around teams during his tenure in the NFL. The 27-year old spent his first two season with the Cowboys before having stints with the Dolphins, Chiefs, Steelers and Saints.
Taco Charlton among Saints' cutshttps://t.co/o3AFr8hDBE pic.twitter.com/w36S7xC9YL
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 30, 2022
Charlton inconsistency throughout his career has been the main factor of his different stints with several teams. In 55 career games, he has recorded 92 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. New Orleans becomes the fifth NFL team to cut ties with the former defensive end product out of Michigan.
New Orleans defensive end depth chart will now consist of Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport, Payton Turner, Carl Granderson and Tanoh Kpassagnon.
Other Players Who Were Cut From the Roster:
Josh Andrews, OL; J.P Holtz, TE; Nick Martin, C; Eric Wilson, LB; Dai’Jean Dixon, WR; DaMarcus Fields, DB; Vincent Gray, DB; Chase Hansen, LB; Jordan Jackson, DT; Lucas Krull, TE; Niko Lalos, DE; Derek Schweiger, OL; Nephi Sewell, LB; Rashid Shaheed; WR/RS; Abram Smith, RB; Derrick Kelly, OL; Khalique Washington, OL; Josh Black, DT; Quenton Meeks, DB; Brian Allen, DB
