Saints Release QB OL Kellen Mond

As the flow of roster places continues after the NFL Draft, the Saints have begun to trim their roster a little. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the team made modifications on Wednesday by dismissing backup tackle Tommy Kraemer and backup quarterback Kellen Mond.

Texas A&M product Mond was selected by the Vikings in the third round. He was selected as the seventh passer in a draft that started with Trevor Lawrence, a franchise quarterback, but otherwise faltered early on, with Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, Mac Jones, Kyle Trask, and Mond taking the field. During a late-season loss to the Packers, Mond made one appearance in garbage time as the third-string quarterback in Minnesota behind Kirk Cousins and Sean Mannion. He completed two of three throws for five yards. Since then, he has not played in an NFL game; he has been a member of the practice squads or rosters for the Browns, Colts, and most recently, Saints.

Kraemer signed his first contract with the Lions in 2021 as an undrafted lineman out of Notre Dame. Having begun the season on Detroit’s practice squad, he was eventually elevated to the active roster, where he started three of his nine games as a rookie. Kraemer joined with the Saints during camp last year despite not playing on the field at all in 2022 due to a back injury. In 2023, he alternated between the practice squad and the active roster, making four appearances for the Saints, primarily on special teams.

With fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler and fourth-round selection Jake Haener from the previous year behind starter Derek Carr on the depth chart, Mond was rendered unnecessary. Taysom Hill, a utility player, is still under contract with the team. Kraemer also had less room on the roster as a result of the team’s recent additions of depth lineman including Shane Lemieux, Justin Herron, and Oli Udoh.