Breaking: New Orleans Saints To Restructure Contract Of Carl Granderson

Saints continue to clear salary cap space in restructuring one of their top defensive players.

NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reports on Monday that the New Orleans Saints are going to restructure the contract of DE Carl Granderson. The move, a conversion of a signing bonus signed last year, will reportedly clear around $7.2 million in salary cap space.

New Orleans is now reportedly facing a cap deficit of just under $30 million, with free agency set to officially start March 13. Since last week, the team has restructured Granderson, QB Derek Carr, C Erik McCoy, G Cesar Ruiz, and DT Nathan Shepherd. These moves have cleared a combined total of around $41 million in cap space. 

Undrafted out of Wyoming in 2019, Granderson has spent all five of his NFL seasons in New Orleans. He has 23 career sacks with 48 QB hits and 33 tackles for loss along with four fumbles forced and two recovered.

Granderson, 27, had his best season in 2023. He had 8.5 sacks, 20 QB hits, 28 pressures, and 14 tackles for loss among 78 total stops. All were the best numbers of his career as he led the team in sacks, QB hits, and tackles for loss. 

New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96) rushes against Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs (78). Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

One of the key pieces to one of the league's better defenses, Granderson was the team's most consistent defensive lineman last season. The Saints inked him to a four-year contract extension worth $35.3 million in guaranteed money early last year.

According to ESPN, Granderson's guaranteed money was the most ever for an undrafted defensive lineman. It is the fourth highest for any undrafted player, with former Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo topping the list at $55 million in guaranteed money. 

Carl Granderson appeared in all 17 games and 79% of the team's defensive snaps last season. He's played in 71 of a possible 75 contests over the last four years and has played in 26 consecutive games.