Roster cuts are in full swing around the NFL. For the New Orleans Saints, they just crowned a winner of a key position battle for their special teams unit this season.
Saints cut punter James Burnip
According to reports, the Saints have waived rookie punter James Burnip. The young punter was an undrafred free agent signing out of Alabama. He was locked into a tight position battle with Kai Kroeger, but the latter has seemingly gotten the nod.
Burnip was inconsistent during the preseason and ultimately, New Orleans moved on. Kroeger will become the fourth starting punter in five years for the Saints. That span began when they moved on from veteran boot Thomas Morstead, a decision that has now haunted New Orleans a bit.
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UDFA Kai Kroeger wins job for now
The fellow UDFA signing clearly took control of the position during camp and the preseason. The Saints gave everyone a hint on who had the upper hand in their preseason finale. Kroeger got the first punting opportunities and also was the holder on kicks by Blake Grupe.
He averaged 44.6 yards per punt (second-best in school history) with his 265 career attempts which stands as a school-record as well as the fifth-most in SEC history. He tied for the most games played in school history with 61. He earned All-SEC and All-American honors in both 2022 and 2024. He was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2024. — New Orleans Saints on Kroeger
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The rookie may hold the job for now, but that does not mean that New Orleans cannot add a veteran option in free agency ahead of Week 1. We could see some experienced options hit the market as teams trim down their rosters around the league. Only time will tell. For now, it is time to celebrate for Kroeger.
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Aug 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.