The New Orleans Saints were active on Monday, making several roster moves following their rookie minicamp over the weekend.
According to Nick Underhill of neworleans.football, the Saints signed veteran wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones earlier in the afternoon. Later, Underhill reported that the team added two more players, though their names had not yet been publicly confirmed at the time.
The flurry of activity signals that the Saints are continuing to evaluate and reshape their roster heading into OTAs, particularly as they look to fill gaps and add depth after the draft and minicamp evaluations.
Following their rookie minicamp, the New Orleans Saints are making more roster additions:
- Veteran safety Terrell Burgess is signing with the team after a tryout over the weekend. Burgess brings experience and versatility to the secondary, having previously played for the Rams and Giants.
- The Saints also plan to sign undrafted rookie quarterback Hunter Dekkers from Iowa State, pending the results of his physical. Dekkers, a left-handed passer with a strong arm and starting experience in the Big 12, will likely compete for a developmental role.
These moves come alongside the earlier signing of wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, indicating that the Saints are actively building depth across multiple positions as they head into the next phase of offseason workouts.
Terrell Burgess, 26, brings familiarity and experience to the Saints’ defense after several years in the league. A third-round pick out of Utah in the 2020 NFL Draft, Burgess was initially selected by the Los Angeles Rams, where he played in 30 games through the first half of the 2022 season.
He finished the 2022 campaign with the New York Giants before moving on to Washington, where he appeared in 12 games in 2023. Most recently, Burgess signed with the Buffalo Bills but landed on injured reserve during training camp and didn’t play in the regular season.
A key connection in this signing is Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who was the Rams’ DC when Burgess was drafted. That familiarity likely played a role in bringing him to New Orleans, where he’ll now compete for a spot in a safety group that could benefit from veteran depth.
Hunter Dekkers, who turns 24 in July, is looking to reignite his football career after a winding collegiate path. He started at Iowa State in 2020 and had his breakout season in 2022, when he led the Big 12 in pass attempts, completions, and completion percentage (66.1%). That year, he threw for 3,044 yards with 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions—showing both promise and areas for development.
After stepping away from Iowa State in 2023 and sitting out the season entirely, Dekkers returned to the field with Iowa Western Community College, where he played last season to get back into playing shape and showcase his skills.
To make room for both Terrell Burgess and Dekkers on the roster, the Saints have released running back Jordan Mims and defensive back Millard Bradford, according to neworleans.football.
Dekkers’ addition brings another developmental quarterback into the fold for New Orleans, and with his arm talent and starting experience, he could push for a practice squad spot if he shows promise during camp.
Jordan Mims and Millard Bradford both contributed in limited roles for the Saints but will now be looking for new opportunities after being released to make room for Terrell Burgess and Hunter Dekkers.
- Jordan Mims joined New Orleans in late summer 2023 after being cut by the Bills as an undrafted rookie. Primarily a practice squad player, Mims carved out some playing time last season, appearing in 11 games. He logged 20 carries for 70 yards and added value as a pass-catcher with 12 receptions for 71 yards. His versatility gave the Saints some backfield depth, especially during stretches of injury.
- Millard Bradford, also undrafted in 2023, came out of TCU and earned a spot on the practice squad. He managed to appear in three games, exclusively on special teams. His athleticism and physical play style helped him contribute in that phase, though he didn’t see action on defense.
Both players now hit the waiver wire, and their in-game experience—especially Mims’ contributions in both rushing and receiving—could make them intriguing pickups for other teams seeking depth or special teams help.
