On Tuesday, the New Orleans Saints finalized their initial 53-man roster. Among those waived were 2022 fifth-round LB D’Marco Jackson and second-year UDFA CB Rico Payton. Jackson was claimed by the Chicago Bears, and Payton by the New York Giants.

Jackson missed his entire rookie season in 2022 due to a hamstring injury but has since carved out a crucial role on special teams.

I was surprised by his release, but the fourth-round selection of Danny Stutsman, combined with the emergence of Jaylan Ford and Isaiah Stalbird, made the position group more crowded than expected—leaving Jackson as the odd man out.

I had hoped he would return to the practice squad, but Chicago swooped in and snagged him off of the waiver wire, reuniting the 27-year-old with his former head coach in Bears DC Denni

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