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Multiple outlets are reporting that the New Orleans Saints are planning on cutting S Jairus Byrd this free agency period.
Source: The #Saints will release big-money safety Jairus Byrd on first day of FA. Another top DB available.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 1, 2017
I can confirm via source the #Saints are expected to release safety Jairus Byrd on first day of free agency. @RapSheet had it first.
— Herbie Teope (@HerbieTeope) March 1, 2017
As explained by our John Hendrix earlier this month, cutting Byrd can save a large amount of cap space this spending period, but the timetable of when the cut takes place makes a huge difference. John explaining this point:
Trimming him as a post-June 1 cut makes a huge difference as opposed to cutting him now. Byrd would only draw $3.4 million in dead money and provide $7.8 million in cap savings if the Saints go that route. By parting ways with him now, the Saints would be out $8 million in dead money and only save $3.2 million.
News has yet to break on whether this will be a post-June 1 cut.
#Saints will be releasing Jairus Byrd first day of Free Agency. Per Ian Rap. Currently looking into if it's Post-June-1st cut.
— Deuce Windham (@RevDeuceWindham) March 1, 2017
In any event, this will put a lot of pressure on second-year Safety Vonn Bell and the New Orleans Saints to find Byrd’s replacement. Stay tuned for more news.