Saints release former second-round WR

Darrel Williams‘ new roster spot on the Saints will cost another veteran their job. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter), the Saints have released wideout James Washington.

Washington joined the Saints on a one-year deal in May and was expected to compete for a roster spot. The 27-year-old is the latest veteran receiver to earn their walking papers, as receiver Keke Coutee was cut by the team this past weekend.

The veteran wideout spent most of the 2022 season on the Cowboys’ injured reserve, but he managed to get into two games for Dallas before getting cut. He spent the rest of the year on the Giants' practice squad. It wasn’t that long ago that Washington was a mainstay on the Steelers' offense. The Oklahoma State product never hit his second-round pedigree, but he did average 32 receptions for 470 yards per season between 2019 and 2021.

The top of the Saints WR depth chart is set with Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed, but the rest of the team’s depth is in question. That grouping includes five-year Saint Tre’Quan Smith and rookie sixth-round pick A.T. Perry, along with Lynn Bowden, Bryan Edwards, Keith Kirkwood, Kawaan Baker, Jontre Kirklin, and rookie Shaquan Davis.