Fansided

3 tough salary cap decisions New Orleans Saints face in 2021

By Brad Berreman

Jan 10, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) throws against the Chicago Bears during the second half in the NFC Wild Card game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) throws against the Chicago Bears during the second half in the NFC Wild Card game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Saints, Patrick Robinson
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images /

2. What to do with Patrick Robinson?

Robinson played in 12 regular season games this year (four starts), before landing on IR with a hamstring issue. He was activated for the playoffs, but he did not play a defensive snap against the Chicago Bears and he was inactive against the Buccaneers.

Robinson played a lot of special teams this season, often more than he saw the field on defense in games (24 percent snap share for the season). But two interceptions and four pass breakups shows he might still have something left.

The decision on Robinson is not necessarily significant financially, with $2.6 million in cleared cap space if he is cut and a $600,000 roster bonus due to him on March 21. But is he worth keeping as a part-time corner and part-time special teamer, with a $3.85 million cap hit for 2021? During his age-34 season?

Eight of Robinson’s 11 NFL seasons have been in a Saints uniform, so there may be some level of sentimental attachment to him. But he has also played just 26 games over the three-season reunion (23 of 32 over the last two seasons), and the Saints have to find money wherever they can. Nearly $4 million to keep an aging part-timer doesn’t feel smart.

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