Nick

Easton

The Saints’ cap situation forced them to move on from Easton, who was due $5.8 million, this offseason. The Texans have a standing offer for Easton, the Bengals have interest, and re-signing in New Orleans at a lower salary is still in the mix. Easton made 15 starts in a swing role in his two years with the Saints.

Easton, 29 in June, made 32 career starts with New Orleans before suffering “several” concussions in 2020 and ultimately being forced out to save $5.8 million against the team’s books. Both Cincinnati and Houston have glaring needs in the trenches, though, and Easton would at the very least provide snaps on the cheap. It seems unreasonable he lands back with the Saints after the organization drafted Cesar Ruiz with the No. 24 overall pick last year.

This move was expected as the organization continues to jostle the books to get under the league’s projected cap number. Releasing Easton, 28, ultimately saves the Saints $5.8 million in 2021. 2020 first-rounder Cesar Ruiz will likely take his spot in Week 1 of the new league year.

Easton, who has been sidelined since Week 14, lands on injured reserve after suffering “several” concussions in 2020. He could return for a potential Super Bowl appearance. The Saints will mix and match with Cesar Ruiz, James Hurst and Will Clapp in Easton’s absence. 28-year-old Easton, who has made 32 career starts, is signed with the Saints through 2022.

He’ll miss his second straight game in the concussion protocol. Cesar Ruiz will make another start against the Vikings in Easton’s place.

Easton is week to week. Cesar Ruiz will finish out the game on Taysom Hill’s right side.

New Orleans became a top destination for Easton following the surprising retirement of starting C Max Unger on Saturday. Initially acquired from the Niners for LB Gerald Hodges in 2016, Easton logged 665 snaps at left guard and another 463 at center for the Vikings before sitting out all of last year after undergoing neck surgery. The 26-year-old will slide right into Unger’s former position, sandwiching in between Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat, Larry Warford, and Ryan Ramczyk.

Per Tomasson, Easton is deciding between the Vikings, Saints and an unnamed mystery team. The Saints, who Easton visited last week, may have an added sense of urgency following Max Unger’s sudden retirement. Easton, who missed all of last year due to neck surgery, has experience at both guard and center.

He met with New Orleans earlier this week and may take another visit or two while mulling the Vikings’ offer. Easton missed all of last year following neck surgery and wasn’t anything special the year before, grading out as PFF’s No. 65 guard out of 80 qualifiers in 2017. Either way, the Harvard alum shouldn’t be on the market for long.

Easton missed all of 2018 as he recovered from neck surgery. ESPN’s Field Yates reports a reunion with the Vikings remains possible.