The NFL offseason rarely begins with fireworks. More often, it starts quietly — with paperwork, reserve/future contracts, and names most fans don’t debate loudly on social media. That was the case Monday when the New Orleans Saints announced that eight players from their 2025 practice squad had been re-signed to one-year reserve/future deals.
On the surface, it felt routine. Procedural. Almost forgettable.
But as is often the case with roster construction, the real story wasn’t just who the Saints brought back — it was who they didn’t. And for a franchise entering a pivotal offseason, those omissions are already fueling speculation about where this organization is headed in 2026.
Understanding What Reserve/Future Deals Really Mean
Before diving into names, it’s important to clarify what these contracts represent.
Reserve/future deals are not guaranteed contracts. They don’t promise playing time, roster spots, or even preseason snaps. What they do offer is an invitation — a chance to compete in offseason workouts, training camp, and preseason games.
For teams, they’re low-risk evaluations.
For players, they’re survival opportunities.
So when the Saints re-signed eight players to these deals, they weren’t making bold declarations about the future. They were keeping doors open.
The Eight Players the Saints Chose to Retain
Here’s the group New Orleans officially brought back:
CB Dalys Beanum
CB Beanie Bishop Jr.
WR Elijah Cooks
S Elliott Davison
DT Coziah Izzard
OT Easton Kilty
CB Jayden Price
OT Barry Wesley
At first glance, there’s a pattern — and it’s not accidental.
A Clear Emphasis on Defensive Depth
Five of the eight re-signed players are defensive backs or defensive linemen. That’s notable.
The Saints have spent years building a defensive identity rooted in versatility, depth, and matchup flexibility. Even as injuries mounted and performance fluctuated in 2025, the organization continued to prioritize defensive evaluation.
Bringing back Beanum, Bishop Jr., Price, Davison, and Izzard suggests the Saints still believe there’s developmental upside in that group — or at least value in seeing them compete again under the same system.
These aren’t players penciled into starting roles. But they’re familiar, affordable, and scheme-ready — qualities that matter when a team is balancing cap constraints with roster churn.
Why Offensive Line Additions Stand Out
Re-signing Easton Kilty and Barry Wesley may look minor, but offensive line depth is never trivial.
The Saints’ offensive line has been in constant flux due to injuries, age, and performance inconsistencies. Keeping developmental tackles around is less about expectations and more about necessity.
Training camp offensive line reps are brutal. Teams need bodies. They need competition. And they need insurance.
Kilty and Wesley represent low-cost answers to a high-demand problem.
Elijah Cooks: The Lone Skill Position Bet
Among the eight, Elijah Cooks stands out.
Wide receiver depth has been a persistent question for New Orleans. Beyond the top of the depth chart, the Saints have cycled through options without landing on consistent contributors.
Cooks’ return signals that the staff believes there may still be something worth exploring — whether as a situational target, special teams contributor, or camp competitor.
Still, the fact that only one skill-position player was re-signed hints at bigger changes coming.
The Names That Are Missing — And Why They Matter
This is where things get interesting.
Four players who ended the season on the Saints practice squad were not immediately re-signed:
QB Jake Haener
QB Hunter Dekkers
RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
LB Nephi Sewell
And each absence tells a slightly different story.
The Quarterback Questions Begin Immediately
Quarterback is always the loudest position in any offseason conversation, and the Saints are no exception.
Jake Haener was once viewed as a developmental option with system familiarity. His absence from the first wave of reserve/future deals raises eyebrows — not because it guarantees he’s gone, but because it signals uncertainty.
Is the Saints’ new offensive vision aligned with Haener’s skill set?
Are they waiting to evaluate veteran options?
Or is Haener testing the market for a clearer path elsewhere?
Hunter Dekkers adds another layer of complexity. Officially, his roster status remains murky. While reports indicated he was restored from the practice squad-injury list, the Saints’ own website hasn’t reflected that change.
That disconnect fuels speculation. Whether administrative or intentional, it leaves open the possibility that the Saints are reassessing their quarterback depth entirely.
What Miller-Hines’ Absence Could Signal
Running back Nyheim Miller-Hines not being re-signed immediately may be less about dissatisfaction and more about timing.
Practice squad free agency operates quietly, and players often explore multiple opportunities before committing. Miller-Hines could be weighing interest from other teams or waiting for clarity on New Orleans’ backfield plans.
But his absence also aligns with a broader trend: the Saints may be preparing for turnover at running back — through the draft, free agency, or internal promotion.
Nephi Sewell and the Linebacker Puzzle
Nephi Sewell remains listed on the practice squad — even though the practice squad technically no longer exists.
That detail may seem trivial, but roster listings matter in the NFL. They reflect intention, clarity, and organizational alignment.
Sewell’s status suggests he hasn’t been forgotten — but he also hasn’t been prioritized. That limbo speaks volumes about how unsettled the linebacker room may be heading into the offseason.
Why the Saints’ Website Confusion Matters
Roster discrepancies between transaction wires, media reports, and team websites aren’t unheard of — but they do create uncertainty.
In this case, the inconsistencies surrounding Dekkers and Sewell point to a broader truth: the Saints are still sorting themselves out.
This isn’t a finished offseason plan. It’s the opening chapter.
The Bigger Picture: An Organization at an Inflection Point
The Saints are navigating a delicate transition.
They are balancing:
Cap limitations
Aging veterans
Scheme evolution
A fanbase eager for clarity
Reserve/future deals don’t solve those problems. But they do offer hints about priorities.
And right now, those hints suggest flexibility over commitment.
Why Fans Are Right to Ask Questions — But Not Panic
It’s tempting to overreact to early offseason moves — or non-moves. But context matters.
These contracts are typically signed in waves. More players could return. Others could depart quietly.
What does matter is intent. And the Saints’ intent appears cautious, deliberate, and open-ended.
That’s not a sign of dysfunction.
It’s a sign of evaluation.
What Comes Next Will Define the Offseason
The Saints’ real decisions are still ahead:
Quarterback clarity
Offensive identity
Draft strategy
Veteran contracts
Coaching adjustments
These eight signings don’t answer those questions — but the missing names make it clear the Saints aren’t rushing to lock themselves into last year’s ideas.
Why This Quiet Move Deserves Attention
Because quiet moves often precede loud ones.
Because roster flexibility is power.
Because uncertainty today can become clarity tomorrow.
And because the Saints are signaling that nothing — and no one — is guaranteed moving forward.
Final Thought: Reading Between the Lines
The Saints brought back eight players. That part is easy to digest.
But the absences? The timing? The ambiguity?
That’s where the real offseason story begins.
This wasn’t about final answers.
It was about keeping options open.
And for a franchise searching for its next chapter, that may be the most revealing move of all.
