Cesar Ruiz. Adam Trautman. Tre’Quan Smith. Marquez Callaway.
These are just four players on offense who held down starting spots and prominent roles in the 2021 New Orleans Saints offense.
Fast forward to this season, the Saints have made a number of moves to create competition that may leave former starters on the bench. The competition based on changes will be more robust to the point where some former starters do not have guaranteed roster spots.
WIDE RECEIVER
This group is the most interesting of all. Saints head coach Dennis Allen mentioned at Offseason Team Activities (OTAs) this week that while Michael Thomas is not yet practicing, he expects him to be ready for training camp. Thomas’s return, coupled with the new additions of veteran Jarvis Landry and rookie Chris Olave, means the top three receivers a season ago have effectively dropped to 4, 5 and 6 on the depth chart.
That leaves little room for error for Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith and Deonte Harty (formerly Harris). While they enjoyed significant playing time a year ago, largely due to the lack of competition at the position group, they are now firmly on the roster bubble. Any injury or misstep in training camp or preseason could open the door for a number of receivers behind the top six that are on the outside looking in.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Before the draft, veteran James Hurst was penciled in as the left tackle based on the departure of Terron Armstead in free agency. The Saints spent a first round pick on left tackle Trevor Penning, though, so he now seems poised to take that spot. But before assuming Hurst goes to the bench as a reserve, consider Saints offensive line assistant coach Zach Strief’s recent comments that “the best five players will start”.
It seems clear at this point that Andrus Peat is the left guard, Erik McCoy is the center and Ryan Ramczyk is the right tackle. But Ruiz won’t be given a starting role if he continues to struggle. Hurst has played both guard and tackle positions in his career and he’ll provide competition for Cesar Ruiz at right guard. Veterans Josh Andrews, Calvin Throckmorton and Forrest Lamp are also in the mix to battle for this role. Ruiz was often mentioned as part of the potential compensation package the Saints put together in the potential Deshaun Watson trade.
The Saints were seemingly prepared to move on from Ruiz if that trade came to fruition and it stands to reason they will make him earn his starting spot in preseason as opposed to handing him anything. Hurst in particular will be difficult to beat if Ruiz doesn’t show significant improvement.
TIGHT END
With the possible exception of Ruiz, Trautman was clearly the starter that struggled the most for the Saints in 2021. The second year player looked overwhelmed and unprepared far too often last season and was often responsible for many of the unit’s struggles. The Saints made the decision to move former quarterback Taysom Hill to tight end full time this offseason, according to Dennis Allen.
Based on this move, it stands to reason Hill would start when he’s healthy. Hill’s contract would place him in the top 10 in terms of compensation at that position. The lack of additions at this position potentially suggest the Saints are comfortable with the position group now that Hill is making a full time commitment. Further, Nick Vannett saw significant playing time the second half of last season to the point where Trautman was no longer clearly ahead of him on the depth chart. Trautman, like Ruiz, will need to show significant growth and improvement to maintain starter status.
The bottom line is the Saints offense is 2021 was the worst version of that unit since 2005.
That is statistically undeniable. A big reason for that, besides injuries, was the poor performance by a number of starters along the offensive line, at receiver and tight end. The Saints paid special attention to those position groups this offseason and if we see the same starters in 2022 it will be because they beat serious competition. The good news for the development of the offense is we should expect to see great battles for playing time in both training camp and preseason.
Andrew Juge is the co-host of “The Saints Happy Hour Podcast.”