The New Orleans Saints are up and running at this week’s organized team activity practices, so it’s a good time to reassess the roster and consider which positions are areas of strength and which are looking vulnerable.
This time, we’ll be breaking each position group down into roster locks (established starters, veteran backups, and highly-drafted rookies), players on bubble (backups returning from last year’s roster or practice squad, late-round draft picks, and undrafted free agents who got heavily-guaranteed deals), and long shots (street free agents, rookies with training camp invites, and everyone else).
Remember, the Saints currently have filled just 89 of their 90 roster spots, so a move or two will be coming soon after the league’s June 1 milestone makes it more feasible for other teams dealing with salary cap constraints. Right now, here’s what the Saints’ roster looks like:
Quarterbacks
- Roster lock: Derek Carr, Jameis Winston, Jake Haener (rookie)
- On the bubble: N/A
- Long shot: N/A
Running backs
- Roster lock: Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, Kendre Miller (rookie), Adam Prentice (fullback)
- On the bubble: Eno Benjamin, Kirk Merritt
- Long shot: SaRodorick Thompson (rookie), Ellis Merriweather (rookie)
Tight ends
- Roster lock: Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, Taysom Hill (flex)
- On the bubble: Lucas Krull
- Long shot: Miller Forristall
Offensive tackles
- Roster lock: Ryan Ramczyk, James Hurst, Trevor Penning, Landon Young
- On the bubble: Storm Norton
- Long shot: Scott Lashley (rookie)
Interior offensive linemen
- Roster lock: Erik McCoy, Andrus Peat, Cesar Ruiz, Calvin Throckmorton, Nick Saldiveri (rookie)
- On the bubble: Lewis Kidd, Mark Evans II (rookie)
- Long shot: Yasir Durant, Koda Martin, Alex Pihlstrom (rookie)
Wide receivers
- Roster lock: Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, Rashid Shaheed
- On the bubble: Tre’Quan Smith, James Washington, Bryan Edwards, A.T. Perry (rookie)
- Long shot: Kawaan Baker, Keith Kirkwood, Shaquan Davis (rookie), Malik Flowers (rookie)
Special teams
- Roster lock: Zack Wood (long snapper)
- On the bubble: Wil Lutz (kicker), Blake Gillikin (punter)
- Long shot: Alex Quevedo (kicker), Blake Grupe (rookie kicker), Lou Hedley (rookie punter)
Defensive ends
- Roster lock: Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Payton Turner, Isaiah Foskey (rookie)
- On the bubble: Jabari Zuniga
- Long shot: Niko Lalos
Defensive tackles
- Roster lock: Khalen Saunders, Nathan Shepherd, Bryan Bresee (rookie)
- On the bubble: Malcolm Roach, Prince Emili
- Long shot: Jack Heflin, Jerron Cage (rookie)
Linebackers
- Roster lock: Demario Davis, Pete Werner
- On the bubble: Zack Baun, D’Marco Jackson, Andrew Dowell, Nephi Sewell, Ty Summers, Afernee Orji (rookie)
- Long shot: Ryan Connelly, Nick Anderson (rookie)
Safeties
- Roster lock: Tyrann Mathieu, Marcus Maye, J.T. Gray
- On the bubble: Lonnie Johnson Jr., Johnathan Abram, Jordan Howden (rookie)
- Long shot: Ugo Amadi, Smoke Monday
Cornerbacks
- Roster lock: Marshon Lattimore, Alontae Taylor, Paulson Adebo
- On the bubble: Bradley Roby, Troy Pride Jr., Isaac Yiadom, Anthony Johnson (rookie)
- Long shot:, Adrian Frye (rookie)
