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Cap-strapped Saints were prepared to release Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans, now negotiating to keep him,

Jahri Evans, one of the New Orleans Saints' most decorated players and their anchor on the offensive line for nearly 10 seasons, faces an uncertain future with the team.

The Saints were initially prepared to release Evans, according to league sources, as they work to get under the NFL salary cap by the new league year on March 10. However, they've recently reached out to Evans' camp to figure out a way to keep him.

The Saints are at least $20 million over the NFL's projected salary cap of $143 million for each team next season. They can get close to that number through simple contract restructures, but still face some difficult decisions about what to do with their high-priced veterans.

The Saints cannot afford to bring back Evans and fellow guard Ben Grubbs at their current salaries. Grubbs' 2015 cap number is $9.6 million.

Saints officials have had several talks with Evans and his representatives in the past few weeks about the 31-year-old Pro Bowl guard's status for 2015 and beyond, according to league sources.

Those talks have included the possibility of a pay cut as Evans, who is slated to make $7.5 million in salary and bonuses in 2015, would carry a cap hit of $11 million. In 2016, his salary and bonuses escalate to $8.7 million with a cap number of $10.2 million.

Cap-strapped Saints were prepared to release Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans, now negotiating to keep him, sources say | NOLA.com

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