The New Orleans Saints made five selections in the 2019 NFL Draft and added a dozen undrafted rookies, so how does the opening-day roster project for the regular season? Let’s run through it, position by position.
Quarterbacks (3): Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, Taysom Hill
This one is easy: the Saints had a strong quarterback room last year, and will again in 2019. J.T. Barrett was an asset on the practice squad, and he should return to it this year.
Running backs (5): Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, Dwayne Washington, Devine Ozigbo, Zach Line (fullback)
The Saints signed two interesting undrafted free agents here between Ozigbo and Darnell Holland, but Ozigbo has the stronger NFL projection thanks to his height/weight/speed profile and experience against stronger competition. Washington is a valuable player in special teams coverage.
Tight ends (3): Jared Cook, Josh Hill, Alize Mack
This unit should perform dramatically better than what Saints fans have seen in recent years; Cook is a serious threat as a receiver and should quickly establish a connection with Brees. Mack will have to outplay two other reserves (Dan Arnold and Garrett Griffin) to make the team, and he has all the ability to do so. He just needs to put in the effort.
Wide receivers (6): Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr., Cameron Meredith, Tre’Quan Smith, Keith Kirkwood, Lil’Jordan Humphrey
The Saints have an interesting group of receivers. If he’s healthy, Meredith has the talent needed to carve out a role in the passing game. Rookies Smith and Kirkwood showed promise. Humphrey is an impressive undrafted prospect who might be able to outplay Austin Carr and Simmie Cobbs Jr. at the bottom of the depth chart.
Offensive tackles (4): Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, Derek Newton, Michael Ola
Armstead and Ramczyk will start again as maybe the best set of bookend tackles in the league. Behind them, Newton is a former starter for the Houston Texans whose experience should earn him a spot as the main backup. Ola had some bright spots in an injury-shortened 2018 season.
Interior offensive line (5): Erik McCoy, Larry Warford, Andrus Peat, Nick Easton, Cameron Tom
This might be the deepest spot on the team. Warford and Peat are both Pro Bowl-quality players (when Peat is healthy) and McCoy should be an instant-impact starting center. Easton will probably have the starting job there initially in training camp, but it’s tough to see him outplaying McCoy. If that’s the case, Easton becomes a good insurance policy should an injury hit at guard or center. Tom will compete with Will Clapp for reserve duties, and his combination of pro experience and athleticism should see him win it.
Special teams (3): Wil Lutz, Thomas Morstead, Zach Wood
Does any team in the league have a better combination of kicking specialists than New Orleans? Lutz and Morstead each have arguments to be ranked highest among their peers at placekicker and punter. And they’re both under contract through at least 2023.
Defensive ends (4): Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport, Trey Hendrickson, Carl Granderson
Expect the Saints to add another player here; only Jordan and Davenport have logged meaningful NFL snaps. Hendrickson is in a make-or-break year and has to take strides in run defense if he’s going to pass roster cuts. Granderson has solid on-field traits, but his looming jury trial surrounding sexual assault allegations raises a number of questions.
Interior defensive line (4): Malcom Brown, David Onyemata, Taylor Stallworth, Mario Edwards Jr.
Sheldon Rankins should begin the year on the physically unable to play (PUP) list while rehabbing his Achilles injury suffered back in January. That leaves the Saints somewhat thin up front even with the additions of Brown and Edwards in free agency. They could use another player here.
Linebackers (5): Demario Davis, Alex Anzalone, A.J. Klein, Craig Robertson, Vince Biegel
This unit appears set with its three starters and two capable special teamers who can play in a pinch. The Saints added some longshots to make the team between undrafted rookie Chase Hansen and seventh-round draft pick Kaden Elliss, but it will be tough for either of them to displace the guys already at the bottom of the depth chart.
Safeties (4): Vonn Bell, Marcus Williams, Chris Banjo, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
Gardner-Johnson really shouldn’t be listed at safety, but we’ll follow the team’s lead to start. He’s played his best football as a slot cornerback and should continue to do that in New Orleans. Otherwise, this group is set between starters Bell and Williams, with Banjo one of the team’s most-accomplished special teams assets. The Saints added Saquan Hampton as a sixth-round pick, but he would have to really perform above expectations to take Banjo’s spot.
Cornerbacks (7): Marshon Lattimore, Eli Apple, Patrick Robinson, P.J. Williams, Justin Hardee, Marcus Sherels (punt returner)
This is the other position with argument for strongest depth on the team. Lattimore and Apple were playing as well as any other starting duo in the league at the end last year, while Robinson and Williams have each shown they can make plays from the slot. Hardee is a core piece on special teams, and Sherels should finally give Saints fans a punt returner they feel safe in trusting. It might be curtains for former starter Ken Crawley.
