The New Orleans Saints are one of many teams preparing to accelerate their offseason program with rookie minicamps and tryouts right around the corner. They’ve also made official some important undrafted free agent signings, so it’s time to reevaluate the depth chart and put together an early roster projection. We’ll also add in a bold prediction for each position group.
Note: Rookies’ names are italicized.
Quarterbacks (3)
Bold prediction: Taysom Hill will overtake Drew Brees in career rushing yards. Hill ended his second NFL season with 196 yards gained on the ground; Brees currently sits at 395 career rushing yards. Slight work for Hill.
Drew Brees (starter)
Teddy Bridgewater
Taysom Hill
Running backs (5)
Bold prediction: Devine Ozigbo has real ability as a runner and receiver, and will earn snaps on offense over both Dwayne Washington and Latavius Murray later in the season.
Alvin Kamara (starter)
Latavius Murray
Dwayne Washington
Devine Ozigbo
Zach Line (fullback)
Wide receivers (6)
Bold prediction: Cameron Meredith’s knee becomes a worry of the past, he emerges as a legitimate No. 2 option alongside Michael Thomas, and catches 100 passes this year.
Michael Thomas (starter)
Ted Ginn Jr. (starter)
Cameron Meredith
Keith Kirkwood
Tre’Quan Smith
Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Tight ends (4)
Bold prediction: Jared Cook will be a revelation, and will catch the most passes a Saints tight end has logged since Jimmy Graham’s last run with the team (85).
Jared Cook (starter)
Josh Hill
Alize Mack
Garrett Griffin
Offensive line (9)
Bold prediction: Terron Armstead and Andrus Peat each give the Saints a healthy 16 games, but free agent signing Nick Easton still plays 500-plus snaps as the sixth man in unbalanced line sets.
Terron Armstead (starter)
Andrus Peat (starter)
Erik McCoy (starter)
Larry Warford (starter)
Ryan Ramczyk (starter)
Nick Easton
Cameron Tom
Derek Newton
Michael Ola
Special teams (3)
Bold prediction: Wil Lutz outdoes himself and sets a new Saints record for most field goals completed in a single season (he was locked in a three-way tie with Morten Andersen and John Carney back in 2017, at 31 field goals).
Wil Lutz
Thomas Morstead
Zach Wood
Defensive line (8)
Bold prediction: Marcus Davenport leads the team in sacks. Cameron Jordan has long been the team’s top pass rusher, but Davenport will take a tremendous step up in 2019 with double-digit sacks.
Reminder: Sheldon Rankins, last year’s starter, may start the year on the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list after his Achilles injury in January.
Cameron Jordan (starter)
Malcom Brown (starter)
David Onyemata (starter)
Marcus Davenport (starter)
Mario Edwards Jr.
Taylor Stallworth
Porter Gustin
Carl Granderson
Linebackers (5)
Bold prediction: Alex Anzalone continues to enjoy good health, and settles into his role on the defense to lead the unit in takeaways (combined fumbles and interceptions).
Demario Davis (starter)
Alex Anzalone (starter)
A.J. Klein
Craig Robertson
Chase Hansen
Defensive backs (10)
Bold prediction: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson will exit training camp as the team’s go-to dime back, and play so well that by the time December rolls around, he’s replaced Patrick Robinson as the starting nickel back.
Marshon Lattimore (starter)
Eli Apple (starter)
Patrick Robinson (starter)
Vonn Bell (starter)
Marcus Williams (starter)
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
P.J. Williams
Chris Banjo
Justin Hardee
Marcus Sherels (punt returner)
