Ronnie Bell Among 10 Waived by Saints in Early Roster Cuts

The New Orleans Saints have started the late-summer roster reduction process by officially waiving 10 players, with wide receiver Ronnie Bell among the group most recognized for regular-season experience. The move reflects a typical pivot point in the preseason cycle, when teams sort through depth, evaluate fit for the regular-season plan, and open spots for remaining internal competition.

According to the team’s roster transaction report published by Pro Football Rumors, the Saints waived Bell and nine others: Elliott Davison, S Hunter Dekkers, QB Bub Means, WR Zaire Mitchell-Paden, TE Garrett Nelson, DE Khalil Saunders, DT Brien Taylor, DT Xavier Truss, and OL Malakai Williams. The list indicates that New Orleans is adjusting across multiple positions rather than making a single-unit change.

Bell stands out in the reported group as the most experienced player being released, with 28 regular-season appearances credited to him. That matters because, in the final rounds of roster decisions, veterans who have already seen game action can still provide value if they remain competitive on special teams, as depth targets, or within the offensive scheme the team intends to run.

For the other players, the waivers primarily indicate an “opportunity window” rather than an end point. Waived players can be claimed by other NFL teams, and if unclaimed, they may look toward practice squad consideration or other roster roles depending on where they fit league-wide needs. For the Saints, the releases also create space for remaining camp evaluations and for any subsequent additions that become available before the regular-season roster is finalized.

The Saints are not alone in making early cuts around this stage of the offseason, but the specific positioning across wide receiver, quarterback, defensive line, tight end, and interior offensive line suggests New Orleans is tightening its rotation across both sides of the ball. Coaches and front offices often use this phase to identify which players provide the clearest path to the 53-man roster, including how quickly players can assimilate roles.

What to watch next is whether any of the waived players are claimed by another team and, if not, whether the Saints re-evaluate the group for possible practice squad placement. For Bell in particular, the key question will be whether another club sees enough in his experience to justify an immediate add as depth or a special-teams option.