As we count down the days to the New Orleans Saints season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, the team has undergone a flurry of changes over the past few weeks. A couple of preseason trades combined with key free-agent additions have this roster looking much different than it did a year ago. With an influx of young talent, the Saints appear focused on building for the future — laying the groundwork for what they hope will be a return to contention in the coming years.

Of course, with so many roster decisions come a few surprises. Some players who once seemed to be in good standing for making the final 53 simply didn’t make the cut, while others the team invested heavily in just didn’t pan out. While there weren’t any jaw-dropping moves this year, a handful of decisions at the deadline certainly raised some eyebrows among fans.

Here are a few surprises from the past week as the team made a handful of roster decisions ahead of Week 1:

DE Isaiah Foskey

As a former second-round pick, Foskey failed to live up to expectations as a highly touted pass rusher out of Notre Dame. It doesn’t come as a surprise to many that Foskey still couldn’t turn the corner, but it is a bit surprising that the front office finally decided to cut ties with the player, even with a new staff.

CB Rico Payton

One of the bigger surprises on this list is a player who has been excellent ever since entering the league last season. As a special teams ace, Payton recorded 11 tackles in 16 games last season, mostly as the team’s gunner on punt coverage. Payton had an opportunity to compete for a role within the secondary this season, but his absence in this year’s preseason games ultimately led to his departure.

WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.

Cedrick Wilson Jr. felt like a sure thing all along, given his ties to Kellen Moore, but he found himself on the outside looking in when he was sent to the practice squad during cut week. Wilson had looked to cement his spot as the team’s No. 4 receiver as the best blocker at the position and a player with a bigger frame. Turns out, with the emergence of teammate Mason Tipton, along with the late additions of Devaughn Vele and Trey Palmer, Wilson was unfortunately surpassed by those guys.

LB D’Marco Jackson

Perhaps the biggest surprise of them all, Jackson’s release came as a bit of shock, largely because of the significant role he’s played on special teams over the past few years. A former fifth-round pick, he had developed into one of the Saints’ most dependable special teams players and was putting together a solid preseason defensively as well. Unfortunately, the impressive play of rookies Jaylan Ford and Isaiah Stalbird made the decision a difficult but necessary one for the front office. Jackson’s departure highlights just how much youth has reshaped this linebacker room heading into the season.

TE Jack Stoll

Another somewhat surprising move was the release of Jack Stoll, given the team’s current situation at the tight end position. With Foster Moreau still on the PUP list, Stoll was signed to provide much-needed blocking depth behind Juwan Johnson. However, the Saints ultimately chose to keep just two tight ends on the active roster, with seventh-round rookie Moliki Matavao securing the other spot. The good news for Stoll is that the team brought him back on the practice squad, leaving the door open for a potential return to the active roster later this season.