Five Teams Use Post-June 1 Designation
Lingering guarantees can be a rough pill to swallow for NFL teams as they move on from players, but the league’s post-June 1 designation allows clubs to spread out the dead money hit over two seasons while reaping greater benefits in the current year. This offseason, five teams took advantage of the rule to carve out some cap space. As Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter) notes, the following clubs now have some extra breathing room to sign draft picks and add veterans in the late stages of free agency: 
- Dolphins: $17MM (Ndamukong Suh release)
- Eagles: $6MM (Mychal Kendricks release)
- Falcons: $3.5MM (Levine Toilolo release)
- Cowboys: $3MM (Orlando Scandrick release)
- Saints: $3MM (Coby Fleener release)
The additional cap space will be particularly useful for the Dolphins and Eagles, who have about $400K in cap room combined. The Falcons ($3.7MM),Saints ($4.2MM), and Cowboys ($8.5MM) are also looking forward to the extra fiscal flexibility. The extra cap room may help to jumpstart the free agent market for players such as Dez Bryant, Tre Boston, Kenny Vaccaro, Eric Reid, and others without a home at this stage of the offseason.
The Dolphins have yet to sign any of their 2018 draft picks, including top choice Minkah Fitzpatrick, but you can expect to see some movement on that front once they receive their $17MM reprieve. The Cowboys, Saints, and Eagles have already wrapped their respective draft classes and the Falcons have signed every pick except for first rounder Calvin Ridley, so those four clubs can concentrate on using their extra room for veteran additions, or new deals/contract sweeteners for current players.
Saints Sign S Sharrod Neasman
The Saints have signed safety Sharrod Neasman, according to Herbie Teope of NFL.com (on Twitter). To make room, the team cut fellow safety Mykkele Thompson, who signed a reserve/futures deal with the team in January. 
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Neasman worked out with the Saints during their rookie camp in May. The 26-year-old has been on the Saints’ radar for a while and New Orleans even tried to sign him off of the Falcons’ practice squad in the last two years. If Neasman continues to perform in practice, he could have a real chance at sticking on the roster.
Neasman saw time in 14 games for the Falcons from 2016-17 but was non-tendered this offseason. An April audition with the Chiefs didn’t yield a deal, but he has found a home with the Saints.
As shown on Roster Resource, Neasman will be competing with Kurt Coleman, Chris Banjo, and fifth-round pick Natrell Jamerson for playing time and a place on the final roster this offseason. The Saints will return Marcus Williams and Vonn Bell as their starters in 2018.
Cameron Meredith Ahead Of Schedule
Cameron Meredith, who entered this offseason as a restricted free agent, provided a rather interesting case study. The Bears signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois State in 2015, and he showed enough during training camp and preseason that year to stick on Chicago’s roster. Although he recorded just 11 receptions in 2015, he exploded in 2016, posting 66 catches for 888 yards and four touchdowns. His physical gifts were beginning to translate to on-field production, and he entered 2017 looking to cement himself as the Bears’ No. 1 WR and one of the better wideouts in the league.
Unfortunately, he tore his ACL and MCL last preseason, so he entered restricted free agency as a player with tantalizing athleticism and measurables (6-3, 207), but also a major medical red flag and a UDFA pedigree. Plus, his route running is not yet as refined as it needs to be for him to truly take the next step.
However, he drew significant interest from both the Saints and Ravens — he also visited with the Colts — before choosing to sign an offer sheet with New Orleans. The Bears were reportedly too wary of Meredith’s medicals to match the offer, so Meredith became a Saint, and the early returns are promising.
Head coach Sean Payton said Meredith is “way ahead of schedule” in his recovery (via Amos Morale III of the Times-Picayune). Although the 25-year-old receiver is not participating in team drills every day just yet. Payton said, “Just watching him move around and, you guys saw him, he’s way ahead of schedule. And certainly where our doctor our doctors had hoped and even better. So, he’s going to factor in this year. He’s a player that we’ve got a real clear vision for.”
Meredith could be a force in the slot in 2018, with Ted Ginn and Michael Thomas currently expected to operate outside the numbers. His contract with New Orleans is a two-year, $9.6MM pact, so he could also represent a major bargain for the Saints if he remains healthy.
Saints Optimistic About Mike Westhoff's Return
- The Saints are still hoping that special teams coach Mike Westhoff will return to the organization after he successfully completes recovery from offseason surgery, according to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com. The 70-year-old underwent surgery for “an issue from his hip all the way down his leg,” and he’s yet to return to New Orleans. Sean Payton had previously expressed some optimism in Westhoff’s return, but he also said he didn’t expect the coach to come back until training camp. After retiring in 2012, Payton convinced Westhoff to return to the NFL towards the end of last season.
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Saints’ Mark Ingram Reports To Minicamp
Saints running back Mark Ingram has stayed away from the team so far this offseason has he angles for a new contract. However, he plans on being in attendance for the team’s mandatory minicamp in mid-June, according to coach Sean Payton (via Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune). 
Offseason Team Activities (OTAs) are voluntary and some players choose not to attend, whether it be because of contract issues or personal preference. In Ingram’s case, he is sitting out OTAs to try and push the Saints to give him a new contract. A holdout during mandatory minicamp would be costly, so it only makes sense for Ingram to report to New Orleans in June.
In light of Ingram’s four-game PED suspension to start the year, it seems unlikely that the Saints will give him a new deal right now. His best bet might be to perform at a high level starting in Week 5 to compel the team to give him an extension, but the Saints may only be willing to go so far with young star Alvin Kamara and a cast of quality backups in the mix. The Saints were also open to dealing Ingram this offseason, though a pre-Halloween midseason trade could be a possibility.
Last year, Ingram posted career-highs in carries (230), yards (1,124), rushing touchdowns (12), and receptions (58). He’ll turn 29 in December.
Saints' Payton On Bromley, Ola
- It sounds like defensive tackle Jay Bromley and offensive lineman Michael Ola, who were signed earlier this month by the Saints, have a real chance at making the final cut. “Both guys we have a vision for,” coach Sean Payton said this week (via Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune). “They’re positions that are hard to find once the season gets started.”
Saints Sign Rookie Tre’Quan Smith
The Saints announced the signing of third-round wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith. With that deal done, the Saints now have all of their draft picks under contract. 
Smith, a 6’2″ receiver out of UCF, was the Saints’ second-highest pick in this year’s draft class thanks to their 2017 deal with the Niners that allowed them to select running back Alvin Kamara. Although there were players the Saints would have liked to have at No. 59 overall this year, it’s safe to say the trade was worthwhile.
Heading into the draft, many viewed Smith as a fourth or fifth-round prospect. The Saints clearly did not agree with that assessment as they grabbed him late in the third. Armed with a quick first step and a freakish wingspan, the Saints believe that Smith can be molded into a quality contributor.
Here’s a look at the Saints’ complete 2018 draft class:
- 1-14: Marcus Davenport, DE (UTSA): Signed
- 3-91: Tre’Quan Smith, WR (UCF): Signed
- 4-127: Rick Leonard, T (Florida State): Signed
- 5-164: Natrell Jamerson, S (Wisconsin): Signed
- 6-189: Kamrin Moore, CB (Boston College): Signed
- 6-201: Boston Scott, RB (Louisiana Tech): Signed
- 7-245: Will Clapp, G (LSU): Signed
Saints Gave UDFA TE Big Guarantee
- The Saints gave UDFA tight end Deon Yelder $90K guaranteed to sign, Joel Erickson of The Advocate notes. A former wide receiver recruit at Western Kentucky, Yelder spent time behind current Rams tight end Tyler Higbee and current Seahawks left tackle George Fant while with the Hilltoppers prior to receiving plenty of playing time last season. New Orleans has struggled to replace Jimmy Graham and recently cut Coby Fleener. Yelder will try to make a team that has 37-year-old Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill atop its depth chart.
Saints Moving UDFA TE To Tackle
- The Saints will convert UDFA tight end Nate Wozniak to tackle, Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com reports. A University of Minnesota product who caught just 28 passes in four seasons, the 6-foot-10 Wozniak weighed only 268 pounds at his pro day. He’s coming in north of 280 now and is aiming to get to 300, per Katzenstein, who adds other teams pursued Wozniak in hopes of converting him to tackle.
Saints Re-Sign OL Josh LeRibeus
Josh LeRibeus played in 16 games for the Saints last season and will attempt to carve out a spot on New Orleans’ 53-man roster for a second straight year.
The defending NFC South champions re-signed the free agent offensive lineman on Friday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. LeRibeus signed a one-year deal with the Saints last year as well. He reached an agreement to return to New Orleans after working out for the 49ers earlier this month.
A former third-round Redskins pick in 2012, LeRibeus has mostly served as a depth component in his career. His lone season with consistent first-string opportunities came in 2015 for the Redskins. The 29-year-old blocker saw action in 217 snaps in 2017, profiling as a better pass-blocking lineman than helping create run lanes.
The Saints lost Senio Kelemete to the Texans in free agency but reacquired Jermon Bushrod and will have Andrus Peat back healthy. New Orleans also used fourth- and seventh-round picks on linemen, so it’s not a given LeRibeus will make the team again.