Strike another name from the roll call of potential June 1 salary cap casualties.

It took more than a month and likely dozens of phones calls, but the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday afternoon finally succeeded in trading linebacker Derrick Rodgers, dealing him to the New Orleans Saints for a seventh-round choice in the 2004 draft.

The trade continues an offseason makeover for the Saints defense, which could have as many as eight new starters in 2003, and removes from the Miami roster a veteran who had become extraneous after the acquisition of Junior Seau last month. Seau will replace Rodgers as the starting weakside linebacker and the Dolphins really did not want to carry a backup with such a lofty salary cap figure.

"He can fly to the football and close the gaps," said Saints coach Jim Haslett. "Derrick is a proven veteran. We are getting deeper, gaining more experience, and getting faster with this trade."

After defensive collapses in each of the past two seasons, and a No. 27 statistical ranking in 2002, New Orleans has emphasized improving its defensive speed in the offseason.

Miami officials had spoken to several teams, most notably Green Bay and Arizona, about trading for Rodgers over the last several weeks. If the Dolphins had been unable to trade the six-year veteran, he probably would have been released after June 1.

As it is, Miami will have to count $1.5 million against its 2003 cap for Rodgers, and will save just $250,000. Rodgers is scheduled to earn $1 million this season between his base salary and a roster bonus and his base salary for 2004 is $2.5 million. It is not yet known if Rodgers agreed to restructure his contract to help facilitate the trade.

A third-round pick of the Dolphins in the 1997 draft, Rodgers has been a starter his entire career. Rodgers never started fewer than 14 games in a year and averaged 14.7 starts per season. He totaled 93 appearances in a Miami uniform.

For his career, the former Arizona State standout has 378 tackles, nine sacks, four forced fumbles and three interceptions. He had 78 tackles and a pair of interceptions in 2002, as he started in 15 of 16 appearances.

Rodgers, 31, spent four years as a medical technician in the Air Force after high school graduation and before enrolling in college. He will serve a one-game league suspension, in the 2003 season opener, after a domestic incident.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.