Acting as a key player for Santos FC for the past two years, Nick Easton is back at the free agency. The Saints released him on Friday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL.com tweets.
New Orleans signed Easton two seasons ago and used him as a starter in 15 games in the past two seasons. The Saints, however, have one of the worst wage ceiling situations in history and must continue to make moves to reach below the 2021 ceiling that should be lowered.
The Saints will save $ 5.87 million from this change. This marks the second consecutive off-season in which New Orleans launched one of its internal O-line matches. They cut Larry Warford last year. Easton ended his second season at Saints on IR and has not played in either of the two playoff games.
By the off-season, Santos was over $ 100 million above the projected 2021 limit, but Drew Brees‘The recent restructuring – one that is likely to precede his retirement – helped bring that number close to $ 70 million. Easton’s move will continue the wage reduction franchise process.
Although Warford and Easton are already gone, the Saints have invested heavily in their offensive line in recent years. They used a choice in the first round Cesar Ruiz last year and extended Andrus Peat. center Erik McCoythe company’s rookie contract runs until the 2022 season.
Following his release from the Vikings in 2019, Easton signed a $ 22.5 million four-year contract with the Saints. The injuries continued to move the veteran of the swing to the New Orleans starting lineup. Pro Football Focus was not particularly important in Easton’s work, ranking him out of the top 50 among the guards in each of his two seasons. But given the teams’ annual interest in proven offensive line players, Easton shouldn’t have much of a problem finding work for next season. For his career, the 28-year-old former UDFA has made 32 appearances.
Santos FC also cut tight ends Cole Wick and Jason Vander Laan. Both players dropped out last season. Unlike Easton, none of them has invested veteran status.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.