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Waiver Wire Moves and Trench Upgrades: Analyzing the Saints’ Post-Cutdown Shakeup
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- Waiver Wire Moves and Trench Upgrades: Analyzing the Saints’ Post-Cutdown Shakeup
Less than 24 hours after general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Kellen Moore trimmed the New Orleans Saints' roster down to the initial 53 players, the front office proved once again that an "initial" roster is nothing more than a draft written in pencil.
On Monday afternoon, ahead of the league's deadline, the Saints flexed their No. 9 waiver claim priority to add two fresh faces to the active 53: defensive tackle Colby Wooden (claimed from Indianapolis ) and offensive tackle Mason Murphy(claimed from Chicago ). To make room for the trench additions, New Orleans waived wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. and tight end Treyton Welch . Shortly thereafter, the team announced its initial 16-player practice squad, bringing back familiar camp faces like wideout Trey Palmer , international kicker Charlie Smyth , and running back C.J. Donaldson.
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While roster cutdown weekend always delivers its fair share of drama, New Orleans' post-cut moves signal a clear theme under Moore and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley: depth line play and rotational flexibility reign supreme.
Reinforcing the Trenches: Why Wooden and Murphy Matter
The headline move of the waiver period is undeniably the claim of Colby Wooden. A 2023 fourth-round pick out of Auburn who spent three seasons with the Green Bay Packers before a brief stop in Indianapolis, Wooden brings 47 games of regular-season experience and 17 career starts to Metairie.
With starter Bryan Bresee (torn ACL) lost for the 2026 season and veteran anchor Cameron Jordan dealing with a nagging hamstring issue ahead of Week 1 against Detroit , the Saints' interior defensive line was dangerously thin. Wooden instantly steps into the rotation alongside rookie second-rounder Christen Miller, Davon Godchaux , and Nathan Shepherd . His leverage against the run and positional versatility—he can slide from 3-technique to 5-technique seamlessly, gives Staley a proven piece to insulate a battered defensive front.
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On the other side of the ball, claiming offensive tackle Mason Murphy off waivers from Chicago gives offensive line coach John Benton a developmental swing tackle. Murphy, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound Auburn product who logged 34 collegiate starts across tackle and center, offers multi-positional emergency depth.
The Wide Receiver Turnover & Practice Squad Strategy
Waiving Kevin Austin Jr. just a day after making the initial 53-man roster leaves the active receiving room sitting at five: Chris Olave , Devaughn Vele , Bryce Lance, Barion Brown , and speedster Kevin Austin Jr.'s replacement spot.
With top draft pick Jordyn Tyson starting the year on Injured Reserve/Designated to Return due to a persistent hamstring strain and Mason Tipton placed on the Reserve/PUP list following offseason leg surgery, the Saints are leaning heavily on youth and speed behind Olave.
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The decision to stash Trey Palmer and Jalen Moreno-Cropper on the practice squad provides immediate elevated gameday options if the rookie tandem of Lance and Brown experiences early-season growing pains. Furthermore, bringing back Irish kicker Charlie Smyth onto the practice squad preserves an intriguing developmental talent behind newly anointed starting kicker Daniel Carlson .
What's Next Moving Forward
With waiver wire claims processed and the practice squad locked in place, the Saints transition from roster construction to game preparation:
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First Practice in Full Pads: The Saints will host a closed, game-week style practice at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, as players adjust to new scheme installs.
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53-Man Roster Finalization: Watch for additional procedural tweaks before Friday, particularly regarding short-term IR elevations and elevation notices from the practice squad.
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Week 1 at Ford Field: All eyes turn to Sunday, September 13, when the Saints travel north to open the 2026 regular season against the Detroit Lions .
