NEW ORLEANS – Punter James Burnip was released by the New Orleans Saints on Monday, according to the CBS Sports roster tracker.
Burnip, a former Alabama Crimson Tide player, was a four-year starter (2021-2025). During his time with the Crimson Tide, he was considered one of the nations’s best punters.
Burnip averaged 43.9 yards per punt, ranking second in Alabama history. He recorded 203 career punts and 8,904 yards over four seasons, ranking third on the Crimson Tide’s career list. In his final season at Alabama, he helped limit opponents to 1.00 yards per punt return, leading the nation. He ranked fourth in the SEC and ninth nationally with a 45.4 yards per punt average. Additionally, he accumulated 2,359 yards on 52 punts, with 20 punts of 50-plus yards, including a season-long 64-yarder. He dropped 19 kicks inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and allowed just five return yards on the season. Burnip was a  semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, presented annually to the nation’s top punter, named a preseason second-team All-American by Walter Camp and ESPN.com, and earned Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week accolades for his play at Wisconsin, according to roll tide.com.
After his impressive career with the Crimson Tide, Burnip declared for the 2025 NFL Draft where he went undrafted and later signed with the Saints.
Having gone through training camp and the NFL preseason with the Saints, he was ultimately unsuccessful in securing the punter role.
As of now, Burnip has not signed with another team.
Alabama’s Second Scrimmage of Fall Camp 2025
Gallery Credit: Wyatt Fulton