The addition of a quarterback via the draft added to the logjam at the position for New Orleans. The team’s depth chart has now be thinned, however. 
Ben DiNucci announced on Tuesday he has been released. The 28-year-old joined the Saints in December in the wake of Derek Carr getting injured. DiNucci did not see any playing time down the stretch, and he will not have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot during training camp as a result of today’s move.
To close out the 2024 season, New Orleans used Spencer Rattler as a starter for six games. The 2024 fifth-rounder is joined by Jake Haener (selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft) as a depth option behind Carr. Of course, it remains to be seen when the Saints’ starter will be available as he weighs the option of undergoing surgery on his shoulder.
As expected, New Orleans drafted a quarterback for the third consecutive year. Tyler Shough heard his name called 40th overall, and the Louisville product will compete for the backup gig during his rookie season (provided Carr is available to start the season). With that quartet of signal-callers in place – along with Hunter Dekkers as an invitee to rookie minicamp (h/t Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football) – it comes as little surprise DiNucci has been let go.
A seventh-round pick of the Cowboys in 2020, DiNucci made three appearances and one start during his rookie campaign. He has yet to see any regular season NFL action since then, and with the draft now in the books most teams’ depth charts are set for the summer. DiNucci will nevertheless turn his attention to finding a new opportunity for 2025.
No not the Nucch™️!!!
Another for Clevelands collection?
The ‘Aints fans are going to bust out the paper bags again this season.
If Carr is able to play for a good portion of the season, they’ll be better than people think. If he misses a good chunk, or all of it, then yeah, it’s going to be a long year.
Agreed, but I do worry about the state of their skill positions, as well as the O-line after Ramczyk’s retirement (which was sort of expected, unfortunately). I don’t have much faith in Olave’s ability to stay healthy, and New Orleans has lacked a possession receiver for some time to help compensate for the bare options on the field otherwise. Kellen Moore does give them some hope to improve the offense, but I don’t think that they covered all of their holes in this offseason, especially in regards to overtaking their competition.
I don’t think that they’ll be one of the abject worst teams in the league if Carr plays, but I also don’t think that they’ll be competitive with the upper half of teams in the majority of games.
I’m concerned about Olave’s ability to stay healthy for him as a person, but I think the Saints will be fine at the position if he isn’t. They have some other WRs in that mold, albeit not as talented.
They do lack that big bodied, possession type WR, though. I don’t understand why they haven’t tried to fill that better because it’s important to Carr’s strengths as a passer.
The O-line is a huge concern for me, too. It’s not awful; but it’s also not good. I’d definitely rank it in the bottom third of the league, despite the resources they’ve spent addressing it.
I think your assessment is fair. If Carr plays, I don’t think 9-8 is unrealistic. In that division, 9 wins gives you a chance. If Carr doesn’t play much, 3 wins might be the best they can do.
I’m sure that I am not the only one that just found out this is a real football player.
He makes more money selling dumb upside down logoed hats than playing football.