The Saints released second-year defensive lineman Tavaris Barnes, a source told The Advocate on Monday.
Barnes was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Clemson after last year’s draft. And in something of a surprise, he made the team coming out of training camp. Used mostly as a backup at the 5-technique defensive-end position, Barnes played in 13 games and made five tackles.
Barnes was part of a successful class of undrafted defensive linemen. All four — Barnes, defensive end Bobby Richardson, defensive tackle Kaleb Eulls and nose tackle Ashaad Mabry — stayed with the Saints throughout the season.