What It Means:

Owed $5.2 million in salary and bonuses with a $5.9 million cap charge, Ellerbe was never coming back at that price. Ellerbe appeared in six games in his first season with New Orleans after being acquired from the Miami Dolphins in the Kenny Stills trade. He made four starts, but he missed large chunks of the season with injuries. Ellerbe, 30, has appeared in just seven games over the last two years.

In six games this season, he recorded 39 tackles (34 solo), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defended. New Orleans finished dead last in Adjusted Defensive Net Expected Points per play.