The entire offseason for the New Orleans Saints is resting on the decision of Drew Brees. The Pro Bowl quarterback just finished his 19th season in the NFL and he's considering all of his options before deciding on whether or not to return in 2020.
Even if Brees chooses to return, it remains to be seen if he's willing to take a pay cut to remain in New Orleans. Seeing that it's either he plays for the Saints or retires, New Orleans is going to have to create some more flexibility with their cap space.
Heading into the offseason, the Saints are projected to possess only $12.7 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. Similar to most teams in the NFL, New Orleans is undoubtedly going to make some moves to free up more money.
Discounting Brees, the Saints have 11 players that hold cap hits of $6 million or more in 2020. Amid the players that reside in that group, it's safe to say that Michael Thomas isn't going to be released. Thomas signed a lucrative five-year extension last offseason.
On the other hand, there are a few players that could be on their way out of New Orleans in the coming months. With that in mind, here is one player that could be a surprise roster cut for the Saints this offseason.
Janoris Jenkins
When watching the Saints, the team is predicated on scoring a ton of points with their multi-faceted offense. As for the defense, it's littered with talented players like Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore, and Demario Davis. But New Orleans still wasn't able to work out the kinks in the secondary.
Therefore, the team chose to claim Janoris Jenkins off of waivers following his release from the New York Giants. Over the course of his career, Jenkins was regarded as a ball-hawking cornerback.
Despite playing only two games with the Saints, Jenkins tallied seven tackles, two deflections, and one interception. Then, in the playoffs, the veteran corner made his presence felt by forcing a fumble against the Minnesota Vikings.
Even though he'd been in New Orleans for a few weeks, Jenkins expressed his desire to remain with the franchise. In spite of his desire, it remains to be seen if the Saints share the same sentiment.
Due to claiming Jenkins off of waivers, New Orleans absorbed the rest of his contract. Next season, Jenkins is going to be a cap hit of $11.25 million (fourth-most on the team). Conversely, the Saints could release him without having to deal with a dead-cap penalty.
To some, it is an obvious choice to part ways with Jenkins to better the team financially. On the other hand, Jenkins did prove to be a viable cornerback for the Saints moving forward. Even though he performed well in his short stint with the team, Jenkins could be a cap-casualty for New Orleans this offseason.
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