The NFL training camp has come and gone, like the 2024 preseason. Players have had multiple opportunities to show the coaching staff and front office what they can provide to this team in the practices and games
The New Orleans Saints have 89 players on their roster and need to cut to 53 before Tuesday afternoon’s 3:00 p.m. deadline. Here’s who I think will make the roster and practice squad:
QB(3): Derek Carr, Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener
All three signal callers were projected to make the roster after the other veterans they signed were released before the preseason. The only real question with this position was who is QB2 between Rattler and Haener.
RB/FB-(4): Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, Jordan Mims, Adam Prentice
The smart move is to place Kendre Miller on IR so he doesn’t hit the open market, doesn’t potentially get poached by another team while on the practice squad, and won’t eat up a roster spot while recovering from his injury. In his place, Mims can be RB3 after the team has shown confidence in his ability to produce in this new scheme. Prentice still gets in as the team’s natural fullback but will have a limited role as Taysom Hill lined up in that spot throughout training camp and in the preseason game against the 49ers.
WR(6): Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Cedrick Wilson Jr, Bub Means, AT Perry, Stanley Morgan
The debate is whether the Saints will go with five or six receivers, I say six. Means has shown promise on offense and special teams and I find it hard to believe the Saints would move on from Perry, despite the inconsistency. Morgan over Eqaniemous St. Brown might surprise you but we’ve seen Morgan have a huge impact on punt coverage for the Cincinnati Bengals. Plus, the front office signed the 27-year-old a couple of days into the new league year.
TE(4): Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, Taysom Hill, Dallin Holker
Johnson was elevated off the PUP list, Hill will play all over the field, and Moreau’s chances of making the team were never in doubt. Holker despite being an undrafted free agent has gotten praise at times and hasn’t shown much that he shouldn’t be a part of the final 53.
OL(9): Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Taliese Fuaga, Lucas Patrick, Trevor Penning, Landon Young, Oli Udoh, Kyle Hergel, Nick Saldiveri
We knew a few players were guaranteed to go through, those players being McCoy, Ruiz, and Fuaga. Patrick and Penning will likely be your starting left guard and right tackles as that’s who has shown up on the depth chart throughout camp and the preseason. Young has spent a couple of seasons with the Saints now and Udoh was signed somewhat early during the offseason.
Hergel to me has shown enough to earn a roster spot while Saldiveri should be the backup left guard as he tries to recover from an injury. There are also reports coming out that the Saints could still shop for another offensive tackle which could give New Orleans a chance to put Saldiveri on IR to free up a spot if the opportunity pops up.
DL(9): Cam Jordan, Carl Granderson, Bryan Bresee, Chase Young, Khalen Saunders, Payton Turner, Nathan Shepherd, Khristian Boyd, Isaiah Foskey
Not much to say here. Many want to move on from Turner and Foskey but both were first and second-round picks. They’ll be given the benefit of the doubt. Boyd also makes the roster after being this year’s sixth-round selection.
LB(5): Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Willie Gay, D’Marco Jackson, Anfernee Orji
Orji has impressed many through camp and the preseason while Jackson has spent time running with the first-team defense during practices and games. If the Saints go with six linebackers, Khaleke Hudson would be the other player in the room to make the roster.
DB(10): Marshon Lattimore, Tyrann Mathieu, Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, Jordan Howden, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Johnathan Abram, J.T. Gray, Rico Payton, Will Harris
A majority of the secondary is strong and was locked to make the roster. The big question marks were Rico Payton and Will Harris. The other options were Shemar Jean-Charles and Ugo Amadi but I liked what the former did on the field more and Harris has versatility as a safety and nickel corner if an injury arose.
K/P/LS(3): Blake Grupe, Lou Hedley, Zach Wood
This wasn’t much to this section of the team. Grupe got all of the kicks in Sunday’s contest and Zach Wood hasn’t had real competition for his spot since he got into the league. Hedley has been less than stellar but Mathew Hayball was worse throughout the preseason. Don’t be surprised if the Saints go after a different punter and release Hedley if one becomes available.
Practice Squad(17):
Jacob Kibodi (RB), Rezjohn Wright (CB), Shemar Jean-Charles (CB), Ugo Amadi (S), Khaleke Hudson (LB), Andrew Dowell (LB), Monty Rice (LB), Kendal Vickers (IDL), Niko Lalos (ED), Charlie Smyth (K), Mason Fairchild (TE), Mason Tipton (WR), Equanimeous St. Brown (WR), Mark Evans II (OL), Josiah Ezirim (T), Tremayne Anchrum (G), and Shane Lemieux (IOL)