Saints Release Running Back Jamaal Williams Amid Salary Cap Crunch

New Orleans, LA — The New Orleans Saints have released running back Jamaal Williams, the team announced Tuesday, amid significant challenges with their salary cap. Williams, 29, had one year remaining on his contract, with no guaranteed money left and a base salary of $3.15 million for the upcoming season.

This decision frees up $1.59 million in cap space as the Saints strive to move under the salary cap, which was reported to be more than $47 million over as of Tuesday. This is part of a critical effort to comply with the NFL‘s salary cap regulations ahead of the new league year.

In the 2024 season, Williams played in 14 games for New Orleans, rushing for just 164 yards on 48 carries, averaging 3.4 yards per carry, and scoring one touchdown. He also contributed nine receptions for 57 yards. During his time with the Saints, he started only five games and was positioned as the backup to Alvin Kamara, who has been the team’s primary running back.

Prior to his stint in New Orleans, Williams played for the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, showcasing a promising career particularly when he led the league with 17 rushing touchdowns in 2022. However, after a lackluster performance in New Orleans, the Saints decided to move on, citing the need for better production from the running back position.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen commented on the release, stating, “This was a tough decision, but we need to ensure we have the best team possible moving forward. Jamaal is a professional and has contributed to this organization, but we must make choices that will prepare us for the future.”

Williams was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by Green Bay out of Brigham Young University (BYU) and has played a total of six NFL seasons. Since joining the Saints, he struggled to meet the expectations set by his previous performances.

Despite his recent struggles, Williams is expected to attract interest from other NFL teams in need of a reliable running back. The Dallas Cowboys, who are seeking to solidify their backfield after Tony Pollard’s departure, and the Carolina Panthers, who could use depth behind Chuba Hubbard, are among potential suitors. The Baltimore Ravens might also consider adding him to support Derrick Henry as they look to strengthen their running game.

As the NFL offseason progresses, Williams will likely be seeking a new team where he can re-establish himself as a key contributor in an offense, leveraging his experience and past success.