The New Orleans Saints let a couple of players go on Monday to open roster spots for new signings after their rookie minicamp; both running back Jordan Mims and safety Millard Bradford were waived on the daily NFL transactions wire. It’s a tough break for both of them, but it does say a lot about how each player was valued by the team’s new coaching staff. They clearly wanted to go in a different direction on each side of the ball.
Mims, 25, played college football with backup QB Jake Haener at Fresno State; he initially signed with the Buffalo Bills as a rookie free agent in 2023 before catching on with New Orleans, and he finished the 2024 season with the 32 touches (20 carries, 12 receptions), fourth-most among Saints running backs. Veteran backup Jamaal Williams was also released this offseason so the Saints have moved on from two of the top four running backs on last year’s depth chart.
Bradford, 25, signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of TCU and made most of his contributions on special teams. New Orleans has loaded up at safety this offseason by signing free agents like Justin Reid (to a three-year, $31.5 million deal) and Terrell Burgess (who has played for new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley before) and drafting Jonas Sanker in the third round out of Virginia. They also signed Elliott Davison as a rookie free agent from UTSA and brought back Ugo Amadi, another veteran backup. There just wasn’t room for Bradford on the depth chart.
Good luck to both young men in what’s next for them. There’s plenty of time to hit the tryout circuit and find a team to compete with before training camp. As for the Saints? They signed Burgess and wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones in corresponding moves, but another roster cut is coming with news that rookie quarterback Hunter Dekkers reached an agreement on a contract with the team. Stay tuned.