The Saints are currently expected to raise $ 64m over the salary cap for the 2021 season, with Jared Cook and Josh Hill expected to be released among several moves to make room
Last updated: 04/03/21 10:38 am
Two-time Pro Bowler Jared Cook is looking for his next team (AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh)
The New Orleans Saints officially released salaried captain Jared Cook and Josh Hill on Wednesday.
Pro Bowl veteran veteran Cook was already scheduled to become a free agent on March 17, while Hill had one season on a three-year, $ 8.85m contract. New Orleans reportedly cleared $ 2.5m off the salary cap with the Hill release.
The Saints are expected to make several more moves in the coming days, as they enter the off-season that is currently over $ 64m over the salary cap for the 2021 season, which According to estimates Over The Cap.
Cook, who turns 34 next month, and Hill, who turns 31 in May, together for 45 receptions, 550 yards and eight touchdown catches in 12 starts at the tight end of last season for New Orleans.
Cook put up most of that catch production, with 37 catches for 504 yards – his lowest numbers since the 2016 season. He also sent seven tackles, giving him 16 in his two years with of the Saints – the biggest career in a two-season race.
“Jared regularly showcased the playing skills we brought to him as a free agent two years ago,” said Saints coach Sean Payton. “He made a lot of great plays for us and had a positive impact on him. his teammates. Jared is a consummate professional who is dedicated to his craft and we wish him every success in the future. “
Cook has threatened to get results in series with the Tennessee Titans (2009-12), St. Louis Rams (2013-15), Green Bay Packers (2016) and then-Oakland Raiders (2017-19). He has 505 catches for 6,673 yards and 41 touchdowns in a 12-year career. He was a third-round pick by the Titans in 2009.
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Hill, who was originally an outsourced free agent out of Idaho State, has spent the previous eight seasons with the Saints. In 117 games (61 starts), he has combined 116 catches and 1,071 yards with 15 touchdowns.
“Josh joined us as a free agent without a contract in 2013 and has been a consistency model throughout his eight seasons with us,” Payton said. “He has been reliable, incompetent and he filled a number of positions for us, often on the fly and in the middle of games, filling each position at a very high level. We appreciate all he has done for our team and we know he will continue to thrive as he moves forward. “