3 surprise cuts the Saints could make this offseason

2. CB Janoris Jenkins

First off, Jenkins is still a good player. He allowed a completion rate below 59 percent and a passer rating of 81.8 in 13 games last season, with 12 pass breakups and three interceptions. But he is 32 years old (33 in October), with the fifth-highest cap hit on the Saints right now ($14.2 million). That feels unpalatable, with a small roster bonus ($1.2 million) due to him in March.

The issue for New Orleans would be how they’ll replace Jenkins as their No. 2 cornerback, without an obvious answer left on the roster. But a well-placed draft pick might get it done, at obviously a way cheaper rate. A separate cheaper veteran could be added too, in the meantime. But taking a good player away from a unit that may need to carry more weight in 2021 isn’t necessarily a great idea.

Maybe Jenkins will be willing to take a pay cut to stay, ideally just leaving money on the table rather than needing an extension beyond 2022 (the final year of his contract) to reduce that cap hit. A cut before June 1 would be a split between cap savings and dead money almost equally ($7 million in cleared space; $7.2 million dead money). A post-June 1 cut shifts it to $4.2 million in dead money and $10 million in cleared cap. As much as parting with Jenkins feels likely or inevitable in some way, it would be surprising if the Saints pulled the trigger.