Saints Stock Watch: 3 Saints Players Who Are Trending in the Wrong Direction

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During the NFL preseason, players must perform well or risk being cut from the roster, unless they hold a guaranteed starting role.

Several New Orleans Saints players excelled Saturday, with some delivering surprise performances while others continued a steady positive trend.

The following players saw their stock fall after last week’s action.

Quarterback Spencer Rattler

Spencer Rattler was the backup quarterback to Tyler Shough heading into the first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, Zach Wilson outplayed Rattler in that game, which ultimately led to a change in the rotation, with Wilson taking the first snaps with the second-team offense in the joint practice against the Rams on Thursday.

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Rattler was 8-for-11, but for only 42 yards as most of Rattler’s completions were conservative throws. He also fumbled the ball away giving it right back to the Jaguars on a strip sack deep into Saints territory in New Orleans’ 24-20 loss to Jacksonville Jaguars last Saturday.

Offensive Lineman Torricelli Simpkins

Second-year center/guard Torricelli Simpkins III had been steadily climbing the depth chart during the first two weeks of training camp, but his momentum stalled during the preseason opener against the Jaguars.

His struggles began with a shotgun snap that nearly went to the running back instead of his quarterback. Later, he was beaten cleanly by a swim move up the middle, resulting in a sack of Wilson.

Kicker Charlie Smyth

Although Charlie Smyth served as the New Orleans Saints kicker during the second half of the season where he made 12 of his 16 kicks, he faces a difficult path to the 53-man roster.

The kicking competition remained tight throughout training camp, with Tanner Brown holding a marginal lead. However, Saturday’s preseason game against the Jaguars provided the first clear separation between the two candidates.

Smyth converted two extra points but missed a 52-yard field goal attempt. Brown, conversely, was successful on both of his attempts from 29 and 49 yards.

Following Smyth’s miss, the statistical advantage has shifted toward Brown as he has made 35 of his 40 kicks, a rate of 87.5%. Smyth, on the other hand, has converted 35 of 44 kicks, or 79.5%.

That’s a small margin, sure. But the more you miss, the more a kicker will likely be cut.

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