Saints could get to $14.61 million under the cap without restructuring Derek Carr, after Saints salary cap potentially increases by $5M

Maybe not as many but they restructured a lot of money in order to cut Wilson? Then they made the playoffs with a rookie and are starting this year with $41m in cap space to build further with.

https://www.milehighreport.com/2024...e-contract-restructures-zach-allen-ben-powers
And the problem with choosing to move on from all the old guys this year is that there is not enough money and not enough draft picks to replace them as starters at so many positions. We do have a young QB that the team is reportedly high on that could compete against a reclamation project QB and a draft pick without using nearly as many resources. And then they could make a move for a QB in next years draft if that doesn't work out.
I do see your point. I guess I just don't see Rattler as the answer either but can see the benefit of playing out the season with him to find out for sure. Will the fans be patient enough to let a bad season play out without losing their shirt? That's a whole other topic.