Saints Ramczyk sets up retirement, saving team $16.7 million
01/08/2025
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints are entering the offseason more than $60 million over the annual salary cap. The next couple of months will likely feature numerous restructures and transactions aimed at bringing the team into compliance with the league’s salary limit.
The first of those moves was reported by Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald.
Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk agreed to reduce his 2024 base salary from $18 million to the league minimum of $1.255 million, creating approximately $16.7 million in cap space for the Saints in 2025.
This move also sets up Ramczyk’s expected retirement. The 2017 first-round pick did not play a snap in the 2024 season as his knee condition worsened throughout the team’s 2023 campaign. A setback following an offseason procedure altered the course of his recovery, leading to his placement on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list for the entire season.
Ramczyk will remain on the roster until June 2, at which time the Saints are expected to process his retirement, deferring some of the remaining funds to 2026. This will open a little more than $11 million in additional funds for the team. Until then, the $16.7 million relief will be beneficial.
This move leaves the Saints just a touch above $50 million over the cap. More moves will soon be made to continue chipping away at the deficit.
This type of transaction is not new for New Orleans. The team did the same with former quarterback Drew Brees before making his retirement official in 2021. They also did this with former safety Malcolm Jenkins in 2021, which signaled his impending retirement.
Ramczyk and running back Alvin Kamara were the last remaining draft picks from the Saints’ highly successful 2017 draft class. Once Ramczyk’s retirement is officially processed, Kamara will be the lone member remaining on the team’s roster. Ramczyk will be the first player from that class to retire.
