Saints Roster Prediction Heading into Final Week of Preseason

As the Saints head into their preseason finale, here's the final 53-man roster prediction from Saints News Network writer Bob Rose.

Author:
Bob Rose
Publish date:
Aug 26, 2023 12:23 PM EDT

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New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints close out their preseason by hosting the Houston Texans on Sunday evening. It will be the last of this weekend's final round of preseason games throughout the NFL.

Saints coach Dennis Allen has already said that QB Derek Carr and most of the starters will not play. Therefore, it will be an extended opportunity, and the last chance, for many players to stake their claim for the 53-man roster.

All NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 players by 4pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, August 29. Here is my final 53-man roster prediction for the Saints.

(* = Rookie)

QUARTERBACK (3)

• Derek Carr

• Jameis Winston

• Jake Haener*

This is an easy projection. Carr was brought in this offseason to lead the offense after nine seasons with the Raiders. Winston returns as arguably the league's best backup. Haener, despite a solid training camp, will have at least a year to develop as the third string.

RUNNING BACK (4)

• Jamaal Williams

• Kendre Miller*

• Ellis Merriweather*

• Adam Prentice (FB)

• Suspended List: Alvin Kamara

(Notable cuts/Practice Squad Candidates: Darrel Williams, Kirk Merritt)

Kamara is suspended for the first three games of the year and will not count as a roster spot until his return. The Saints prepared for this contingency, plus added a much-needed talent upgrade to the backfield. Jamaal Williams, a 1,000-yard rusher and the NFL touchdown leader with Detroit in 2022, will be a terrific complement to Kamara and the starter until his return.

Third-round choice Kendre Miller is a versatile and explosive addition, but has been banged up for part of camp. Undrafted rookie Merriweather looks like he's earned a job with a strong preseason and surprising receiving skills.

Darrel Williams, signed just two weeks ago, hasn't had a chance to show much. It's highly possible that the Saints will want to carry an extra back with NFL experience while Kamara is out. The more likely scenario is that the team will add Williams or another experienced back onto their practice squad.

WIDE RECEIVER (6)

• Chris Olave

• Michael Thomas

• Rashid Shaheed

• A.T. Perry*

• Keith Kirkwood

• Lynn Bowden Jr.

(Notable Cuts/Practice Squad Candidates: Shaq Davis*, Jontre Kirklin, Kawaan Baker, Tre'Quan Smith)

This is perhaps the team's most hotly contested position at the back part of the depth chart. Olave, Thomas, and Shaheed are easy choices and should be an explosive trio. Perry looks to have earned his spot with very strong play over the last few weeks. Kirkwood brings veteran experience and has been one of Carr's favorite targets in training camp.

If the Saints keep six wideouts, as they've done in recent years, then one of them (other than Shaheed) will be the return specialist. That leaves undrafted rookie Davis as the odd man out, despite standout play over the last couple weeks. Bowden hasn't been spectacular as a returner, but he's been solid. His roster spot would seem tenuous, at best.

Tre'Quan Smith has been literally invisible after being figuratively invisible through most of his career. Smith has missed the last 12 practices and both preseason games with a groin injury. It's possible that he's placed on injured reserve or traded - Sean Payton, are you reading this? Nevertheless, Smith has done nothing this summer and nothing in his career to warrant a spot on this team.

TIGHT END (4)

• Juwan Johnson

• Foster Moreau

• Jimmy Graham

• Taysom Hill

(Notable Cuts/Practice Squad Candidates: Lucas Krull, J.P. Holtz, Jesse James)

If training camp is any indication, then the Carr-Johnson connection could be special. Moreau is a more traditional in-line tight end with underrated athleticism. Hill is a tight end in name only. Graham, medical issues aside, looks to have done enough to make the team.

If the Saints do not keep Graham, then they'll run with Johnson, Moreau, and Hill at the position to start the year. None of the other tight ends have done enough to be considered anything more than practice squad candidates.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

New Orleans Saints center Erik McCoy (78) waits to snap the football against the Philadelphia Eagles. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY

• Trevor Penning, LT

• James Hurst, G/T

• Erik McCoy, C

• Cesar Ruiz, RG

• Ryan Ramczyk, RT

• Andrus Peat, G

• Nick Saldiveri*, G/T

• Calvin Throckmorton, G

• Max Garcia, G/C

(Notable Cuts/Practice Squad Candidates: Landon Young, Mark Evans II*, Lewis Kidd, Storm Norton)

This is still a top-tier starting line. If healthy, which has been a huge ''if'' the last two years. Anyone who thinks that the Saints will only keep eight linemen on their initial active roster needs to pay closer attention to the recent injury history of this group. Peat has already been sidelined for weeks with his first injury of the year.

The issue at depth on the current roster is quality. Really, none of the backups have played well enough to warrant a job. I do expect the Saints to carry nine linemen initially, but those final two spots might be filled by signings from another team’s cast-offs.

DEFENSIVE END (5)

New Orleans Saints defensive ends Isaiah Foskey and Payton Turner (98) during training camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

• Cameron Jordan

• Carl Granderson

• Payton Turner

• Tanoh Kpassagnon

• Isaiah Foskey*

(Notable Cuts/Practice Squad Candidates: Niko Lalos)

Barring a shocking trade of someone like Granderson or Kpassagnon, this is an easy position to project. Unfortunately, Lalos will be a victim of numbers despite playing well. Foskey hasn't been impressive, but he's a second-round choice who's showing steady improvement.

Turner's play has been a revelation after disappointing his first two seasons. If that continues into the regular season, then the Saints have a devastating edge rotation led by the ageless Jordan.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE (4)

• Khalen Saunders

• Nathan Shepherd

• Bryan Bresee*

• Malcolm Roach

(Notable Cuts/Practice Squad Candidates: Jack Heflin)

This is another spot easy to predict, barring an unforseen development. New Orleans revamped their defensive tackle spot this offseason. In preseason, the rotation has looked potentially dominant. This is one of the team’s major storylines to watch heading into the regular season.

LINEBACKER (6)

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jaylon Smith (59) looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY

• Demario Davis

• Pete Werner

• Jaylon Smith

• Nephi Sewell

• D'Marco Jackson

• Ty Summers

(Notable Cuts/Practice Squad Candidates: Anfernee Orji, Ryan Connelly, Nick Anderson, Zack Baun)

Perhaps the most hotly debated position on this team at the back part of the depth chart. Davis and Werner are a terrific tandem. The recent signing of Smith gives the team experience, athleticism, and versatility at the third spot.

Most of the young linebackers on the roster have played surprisingly well, making this an even tougher prediction. Jackson and Sewell have been the most consistent, with each having good special teams skills. Connelly's recent knee injury could land him on injured reserve.

I'd personally love to see Orji make this squad. However, Summers has been his equal on special teams and has played slightly better on defense. Yes, I know Baun has been terrific special teams contributor. But the 2020 third-round choice has never been a good fit in the defensive scheme and has been especially abysmal in coverage.

Sewell, Jackson, Summers, Connelly, and Orji have also shown potential special teams contributions and have vastly outplayed Baun on defense. It wouldn't shock me if Baun were kept, but I can see a trade or release being the more logical move.

CORNERBACK (5)

New Orleans Saints cornerbacks Paulson Adebo (29) and Bradley Roby (21) work on defensive back drills during minicamp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

• Marshon Lattimore

• Alontae Taylor

• Paulson Adebo

• Bradley Roby

• Lonnie Johnson (CB/S)

(Notable Cuts/Practice Squad Candidates: Isaac Yiadom, Tony Pride)

Despite national disrespect, no team can boast a trio of quality corners like Lattimore, Taylor, and Adebo. Roby has been the subject of some (unfounded) trade rumors, but gives the team starting quality as a fourth corner.

Lonnie Johnson hasn't been overly impressive and it wouldn't be shocked if he were on the outside looking in. However, Johnson brings the same type of corner/safety versatility that the Saints enjoyed with P.J. Williams for several seasons.

SAFETY (4)

New Orleans Saints safety Ugo Amadi (0) during training camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

• Tyrann Mathieu

• Jordan Howden*

• Ugo Amadi

• J.T. Gray

• PROJECTED Suspended List: Marcus Maye

(Notable Cuts/Practice Squad Candidates: Smoke Monday, Johnathan Abram)

Maye's DUI case has finally been settled legally. The NFL could step in relatively quickly to issue their own punishment --a probable 2-3 game suspension. For this exercise, I'm projecting that Maye will join Kamara on the suspended list to start the season.

If he's not, that puts Lonnie Johnson's or Ugo Amadi's roster chances in jeopardy. Amadi has been outstanding at times and can be used either as a deep safety or slot corner against multiple receiver sets. Howden has looked good, even working with the first team defense at times. Gray adds little defensively, but is one of the league's best special teams players.

SPECIALISTS (3)

New Orleans Saints place kicker Wil Lutz (3) kicks a field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY

• Wil Lutz (K)

• Blake Gillikin (P)

• Zach Wood (LS)

(Notable Cuts/Practice Squad Candidates: Blake Grupe, Lou Hedley)

Neither punter has been overly impressive, but I see the Saints going with the experience of Gillikin here. It's the kicker spot that has everyone's attention as preseason comes to an end.

The rookie Grupe has been every bit as accurate as Lutz. Both kickers have had an outstanding camp, leading to rampant trade speculation recently. Neither kicker will clear waivers for the New Orleans practice squad if released.

A trade is certainly possible. However, I believe that the Saints stay with the range and experience of Lutz. I also expect Grupe to develop a sudden and mysterious ''injury'' in the coming days, allowing New Orleans to stash him on injured reserve until 2024.