The New Orleans Saints are at capacity with their 90-man roster, set to carry a talented group of players through the summer and into training camp. But just 53 of them will be retained for the season’s opening kickoff, with a dozen players hoping to clear waivers and return on the practice squad (per new CBA rules, two practice squad players each week may be promoted to the active roster on game days. It’s more confusing than it needs to be).
But which Saints players are in best position to make the team? Which of them are out on the fringe, on the roster bubble? And who faces the longest odds of making the cut? Here’s a position-by-position preview, starting with the quarterbacks:
Quarterbacks
Locks:
- Drew Brees
- Taysom Hill
- Jameis Winston
On the bubble:
- Tommy Stevens
The top three passers are locked in, with Hill and Winston setting themselves up to compete for the starting job once Brees has spun his last football in New Orleans. It’s as impressive a depth chart you’ll find around the NFL, regardless of position. How many teams can say their third-stringer is a Heisman Trophy winner?
Stevens is a curiosity. If he can do an admirable job filling in for Hill as a runner and receiver (and maybe on special teams), he might stick around on the 53-man roster. He might pass through waivers and land on the practice squad, but it doesn’t feel like the Saints traded back into the draft just to give up on him after a few weeks in training camp.
Running backs
Locks:
- Alvin Kamara
- Latavius Murray
On the bubble:
- Dwayne Washington
- Ty Montgomery
- Ricky Ortiz (fullback)
- Michael Burton (fullback)
Long shots:
- Tony Jones Jr.
- Taquan Mizzell
It’ll be fascinating to see how things shake out in training camp, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the forest for the trees here. Kamara and Murray are going to dominate snaps played at running back for the Saints, with the third wheel (whoever that ends up being) only getting a few looks in blowout wins — last year, Washington filled that role and only touched the ball nine times.
But Montgomery might be more of a wild card than we’re letting on. If he can quickly get into rhythm with Brees and the other Saints quarterbacks and prove himself as a run-after-catch threat able to line up anywhere, he could end up earning meaningful targets down the stretch.
Oh, and there’s a fullback battle to track. Burton is probably the favorite given his NFL experience, but Ortiz had some bright moments in a pinch after the Saints had an opening last season.
Tight ends
Locks:
- Jared Cook
- Josh Hill
- Adam Trautman
On the bubble:
- Garrett Griffin
Long shots:
- Jason Vander Laan
- Cole Wick
The only thing differentiating Griffin from the other lower-ranked tight ends is the number of years the Saints have invested in him, including multiple seasons on the practice squad and a few big-time targets int the 2018 playoffs. It’s not likely that the team carries four tight ends on the 53-man roster, but stranger things have happened. Maybe Griffin fits a long-term vision of a tandem with Trautman.
Wide receivers
Locks:
- Michael Thomas
- Emmanuel Sanders
- Deonte Harris
On the bubble:
- Tre’Quan Smith
- Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- Krishawn Hogan
- Austin Carr
Long shots:
- Emmanuel Butler
- Tommylee Lewis
- Maurice Harris
- Tim White
- Juwan Johnson
- Marquez Callaway
The only advantage the players on the bubble have over the rest of the receivers is their experience — they each appeared in games last season, at least in varying degrees. That shouldn’t be enough to give them an edge once the Saints gather for training camp, and there’s a crowd waiting for any of them to slip up.
That includes Smith, who hasn’t shown any consistency through his first two years in the NFL. While Smith has reeled in 10 touchdown catches in that time, he’s turned in far too many feast-or-famine performances. He has to step up or one of the many receivers competing against him could pass him by.
Offensive tackles
Locks:
- Terron Armstead
- Ryan Ramczyk
On the bubble:
- Patrick Omameh
- Ethan Greenidge
- Derrick Kelly
Long shots:
- Calvin Throckmorton
- Darrin Paulo
- Jordan Steckler
The Saints must come up with a better plan in case Amrstead misses time than moving left guard Andrus Peat out of position to replace him. Hopefully that turns out to be Greenidge, who never took the field last year but was on hand for every game. It could also be Omameh, who filled in admirably on a short week against the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving. Kelly has strictly played right tackle, and spent the season on the practice squad.
Paulo is an interest dark horse to consider. He’s predominately played left tackle in college at Utah, and could make a serious push to become Armstead’s understudy. Throckmorton and Steckler have seen more action on the right side, with some of their snaps played at guard.
Interior offensive line
Locks:
- Andrus Peat
- Erik McCoy
- Cesar Ruiz
On the bubble:
- Nick Easton
- Will Clapp
- Cameron Tom
Long shots:
- Adrian Magee
- Calvin Throckmorton
- Jordan Steckler
The Saints don’t often carry many interior linemen on the final roster, and they might keep even fewer than before with two starting-quality centers on hand between Ruiz and McCoy. That would limit the opportunities for players limited to one spot, like Easton, who was pushed out of the battle to play center early in camp last year; he focused on lining up at left guard while McCoy and Tom snapped the ball on the first- and second-team offenses.
Throckmorton and Steckler each spent some time at guard in college, and could compete for a roster spot as a backup almost anywhere along the line. They might have a leg up on Magee because of that, but none of these prospects can be overlooked so early in the process.
Special teams
Locks:
- Wil Lutz (kicker)
- Zach Wood (long snapper)
- Thomas Morstead (punter)
Long shots:
- Blake Gillikin (punter)
Could we really have a training camp competition at punter? It’s almost unthinkable, but Gillikin is a legitimate talent, and he’s the first punter the Saints have brought in for the summer since Morstead’s rookie year. Signs are pointing to New Orleans being open to change here even though Morstead has maintained a high level of play.
Still, we’ll believe it when we see it. Gillikin will have to really impress in order to unseat the veteran who’s been one of the best punters in the NFL over the last decade. But wilder things have happened.
Also, keep an eye on who is fielding those punts and kickoffs. Deonte Harris was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl return man last year, but Tennessee product Marquez Callaway has a strong resume on special teams. Harris should be the favorite to win that contest, but don’t assume it’s over before it’s started.
Defensive ends
Locks:
- Cameron Jordan
- Marcus Davenport
- Trey Hendrickson
On the bubble:
- Mario Edwards
- Carl Granderson
- Noah Spence
- Margus Hunt
Long shots:
- Gus Cumberlander
The Saints only carried four or five edge rushers last year (with Granderson joining them near the midway point), so this one is nearly settled. But it’s no sure thing that the same group will return from last year, especially with the unique skills sets Spence and Hunt have to offer.
And Cumberlander is interesting. If he hadn’t gone down with a season-ending injury, he might have been drafted early on the third day. He was disruptive in a handful of games at Oregon much like Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner once were. He also fits the prototype the Saints have favored lately of a lanky pass rusher whose size lends them natural strength in run defense. He could climb the ladder if his body is right and if the veterans ahead of him stumble out of the gate.
Defensive tackles
Locks:
- David Onyemata
- Sheldon Rankins
- Malcom Brown
- Shy Tuttle
On the bubble:
- Taylor Stallworth
Long shots:
- Jalen Dalton
- Malcom Roach
We shouldn’t expect much shakeup here: the Saints have found a formula that works. Onyemata and Rankins function best as co-starters at the three-technique spot, with Brown playing almost 20 snaps per game at nose tackle in base sets and obvious run situations. Tuttle’s emergence as an undrafted rookie gem should earn him more snaps in 2020, but that’s the only major change.
Still, Roach is a name to keep track of. He played well for the Longhorns and received draftable grades from a few media outlets. If he has what it takes to compete at the next level, the Saints will find room for him. He just has to outplay a few veterans and practice squad call-ups (Stallworth and Dalton) to earn it.
Linebackers
Locks:
- Demario Davis
- Alex Anzalone
- Kiko Alonso
- Craig Robertson
- Zack Baun
On the bubble:
- Kaden Elliss
Long shots:
- Joe Bachie
- Andrew Dowell
- Chase Hansen
This is a tough group to figure out. Baun should earn playing-time sooner or later, but if everyone is healthy then it’s tough to nail down when and where he gets on the field. It doesn’t help that the Saints frequently play just two linebackers at a time, and Davis is the best three-down backer in the NFL for his run-defense instincts, blitz timing, and passing-concept comprehension.
Maybe one of the higher-ranked players slips up in camp, like Anzalone or Alonso (due to injury history) or Robertson (because of age and limitations to special teams). It’s hard to see the Saints keeping six or seven linebackers, even if there are deserving players. Bachie is a much-hyped undrafted free agent pickup, and Elliss was well-regarded last summer. There’s a lot of competition here.
Safeties
Locks:
- Marcus Williams
- Malcolm Jenkins
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson
On the bubble:
- J.T. Gray
- D.J. Swearinger
- Saquan Hampton
Long shots:
- Chris Johnson
Gray is only on the bubble because he hasn’t shown much on defense, strictly playing special teams. And he’s done a fantastic job of that, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition last year for his efforts covering punts and kickoffs. Realistically speaking, he’ll probably be on the opening-day roster.
But veterans like Swearinger and second-year pros like Hampton won’t make it easy for Gray. Hampton is familiar with what the Saints ask of their special teamers, having been coached by members of the staff back at Rutgers. The Saints’ fourth and fifth safeties might not play often, but they’ll be sure to keep the best players possible.
Cornerbacks
Locks:
- Marshon Lattimore
- Janoris Jenkins
On the bubble:
- P.J. Williams
- Patrick Robinson
- Justin Hardee
Long shots:
- Johnson Bademosi
- Deatrick Nichols
- Tino Ellis
- Keith Washington
It would be surprising if Williams doesn’t make the 53-man roster. He’s started games for the Saints in the slot and out on the boundary when injuries ravaged the secondary, and might be the best tackling defensive back on the team. There have been times when he was the only one making plays on the back end. He’s hoping to put it all together and cash in as a free agent again in 2021.
Still, the Saints have added plenty of similar skills sets. Like Williams, Robinson and Nichols are each slot specialists, while Hardee and Bademosi should perform best on special teams. That leaves the undrafted rookie duo to try and make a good impression at the bottom of the depth chart. This group might not look much different from last year’s cornerbacks, but you have to like the idea of Jenkins starting 16 games instead of having Williams, Robinson, Ken Crawley, and Eli Apple playing musical chairs.
