New Orleans dropped the first shocker of their roster cuts, waiving third-year wide receiver Bub Means, their 2024 fifth-round draft pick. This move, reported by Nick Underhill for NewOrleans.Football, definitely raised some eyebrows. Means was even projected to make the 53-man roster, so for the Saints to go “in a different direction” for their receiving corps, something must have really shifted.
The Potential That Just Vanished
Means, only 25, brought some serious college pedigree with him to the NFL. He played at Tennessee and Louisiana Tech before really exploding at Pittsburgh in 2023, racking up 41 catches for 721 yards and six touchdowns. You can’t ignore those numbers. The dude has good speed for his size too, clocking a 4.43 second 40-yard dash while standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 212 pounds. That kind of physical profile usually gets you a long look, especially for a fifth-round pick. So, what happened?
Durability and Lost Momentum
The biggest red flag for Means has been his durability. His 2024 rookie year got cut short in November with a high-ankle sprain. Then, another injury sidelined him for the *entire* 2025 preseason. That’s two seasons in a row with significant injury setbacks. He got off to a hot start this summer, but when the actual preseason games kicked off, that momentum just vanished. By the end of training camp, he was losing targets to other receivers on the depth chart, and that’s usually the kiss of death for a guy on the bubble.
So, the Saints are clearly making some tough calls to finalize their receiving group. Means might still land on their practice squad if he clears waivers, but with his speed and size, you have to think another team could snap him up. The next few days will be crucial as teams navigate injured reserve decisions and build out those practice squads. For New Orleans, it means their WR room is suddenly a bit more of an unknown, and everyone will be watching how they round out that depth.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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