It's obviously way too early to have any real idea of how the Saints roster will shake out in 2022, but that won't stop me from shooting my shot.
And there are a handful of positions with young players taking their best shot at cracking into a roster that's stocked with a lot more talent than it might be getting credit for. That's particularly true at wide receiver, tight end and safety, with quality UDFAs having a serious uphill battle to land on the final 53-man roster.
As you'll see going through the list below, familiarity was a positive trait and kept a handful of names safe at their positions. It's just a fact of the present time that we haven't seen enough from a lot of these UDFAs to feel confident about them cracking the 53. But that's what training camp is for, beginning late next month.
So without further ado, here's my initial 53-man roster projection, as well as the 14-player practice squad. That list doesn't necessarily indicate whether I think a player will end up on the practice squad, moreso that they're the players who just missed the final roster cut.
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JEFF'S ROSTER PROJECTION, 6/29
QUARTERBACKS (3)
- Jameis Winston
- Andy Dalton
- Ian Book
In 2021: 3 kept
NOTES: One thing to keep in mind is that while the Saints have kept three QBs (even as many as four last season), that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. Andy Dalton was a splash signing at backup QB, so you should feel comfortable there if you want to save a roster spot. You also know that in an emergency, Taysom could fill in at QB, even if that’s technically not his job anymore. If Ian Book shines and makes himself a worthy addition, he could stick on the final roster. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if some of the tough decisions elsewhere leave him on the outside looking in. He’d be at the top of the practice squad list if so.
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RUNNING BACKS (4)
- Alvin Kamara
- Mark Ingram
- Devine Ozigbo
- Dwayne Washington
In 2021: 4 kept
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NOTES: In another season I’d start out with three here, but with what feels like an inevitable and lengthy suspension coming for Kamara, I’d rather be out ahead of the curve. Washington is a special teams necessity, so that final slot is now being contended for by Ozigbo, Tony Jones Jr. and Abram Smith. It’s possible there’s more added to the mix as camp gets underway, but for now I’m going with Ziggy for two simple reasons: He’s looked the most impressive thus far, and he can catch out of the backfield with the best of them.
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TIGHT END (4)
- Adam Trautman
- Nick Vannett
- Juwan Johnson
- Taysom Hill
In 2021: 4 kept
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NOTES: This is a position I think you could potentially see as many as five players make the final roster cut, but more likely it’s the core four. Trautman and Vannett have pretty clear roles, though it’s difficult to say who will have a more significant impact in the passing game. Logic would dictate Trautman, but the pair really never played together last season to have an idea of what that platoon might look like. Taysom isn’t going anywhere and will be more worked into a TE role this season, though his health to start the season is still a question mark. If anything his increased TE role might limit Johnson's, but it's still too early to tell. The closest miss is Lucas Krull, who very much could make the roster, I’m just not ready to commit until we see more.
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WIDE RECEIVER (6)
- Michael Thomas
- Jarvis Landry
- Chris Olave
- Deonte Harty
- Marquez Callaway
- Tre'Quan Smith
In 2021: 5 kept
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NOTES: A year ago this positional cupboard was, at best, lightly stocked. The top two receiving options for much of the year in 2021 stick on the roster in the form of Callaway and Harty, but they’ll no longer be the focal point of the offense. Tre’Quan's extension this offseason makes it feel likely he gets at least one more run at a healthy and productive campaign, but there are definitely youngsters nipping at his heels. Smith's deal is technically for 3 years, but only the first year is really guaranteed. The Saints will be paying him on that regardless if they cut him. Dai’Jean Dixon and Kirk Merritt have both been impressive and have the frames necessary to pick up the blocking assignments Smith shines in often. I’m giving Tre'Quan that spot now, but he’ll have to show he can stay healthy to hang on.
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OFFENSIVE LINE (8)
- Ryan Ramczyk
- Andrus Peat
- Erik McCoy
- Cesar Ruiz
- James Hurst
- Trevor Penning
- Calvin Throckmorton
- Landon Young
In 2021: 9 kept
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NOTES: Offensive line is always simultaneously the easiest and hardest position to project, because the top six or seven names are basically etched in stone. Behind them it’s anyone’s guess this early. For now Calvin Throckmorton gets the nod after playing well in relief a season ago, while Landon Young is probably the most capable depth for the RT position heading into Year 2. That could also be Ethan Greenidge, of course. Forrest Lamp is another potential depth option. Either way you have some number flexibility here if Ruiz is doubling as the backup center, as there would be no other option on the roster in this scenario.
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DEFENSIVE LINE (9)
- Cam Jordan
- Marcus Davenport
- Payton Turner
- Carl Granderson
- Tanoh Kpassagnon
- David Onyemata
- Malcolm Roach
- Shy Tuttle
- Kentavius Street
In 2021: 8 kept
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NOTES: This position will always have a question mark next to it, because if it can stay healthy it’s one of the most formidable pass-rush groups in the NFL. Carl Granderson was singled out by head coach Dennis Allen as one of the most impressive players at minicamp, so he feels like a safe addition. Tanoh Kpassagnon also feels like an easy inclusion, assuming he can stay healthy. Newcomer Kentavius Street gives flexibility as an interior or outside rusher, and I think his former coach from N.C. State Ryan Nielsen would want to keep him around when push comes to shove. The tough decision is Jordan Jackson not making the cut, but the Saints will likely feel confident in their ability to stash him on the practice squad.
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LINEBACKER (6)
- Demario Davis
- Pete Werner
- Kaden Elliss
- Zack Baun
- D'Marco Jackson
- Andrew Dowell
In 2021: 7 kept
NOTES: Yet again one of the deeper position groups, but a lot is relying on Pete Werner successfully stepping up into that starting Will role in Year 2. I think it’s highly possible the Saints bring in at least one veteran for competition, but it’s likely Werner’s job to lose. Andrew Dowell has been a major asset on special teams so I include him here, and I also think the team will want to keep the rookie draft pick D'Marco Jackson on the final roster, considering you’ve already left one off at DL. The guy on here who might be the shakiest is Zack Baun. He's only heading into Year 3, but I think he'll have to earn his spot to stick around.
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CORNERBACK (6)
- Marshon Lattimore
- Paulson Adebo
- Bradley Roby
- Alontae Taylor
- PJ Williams
- Bryce Thompson
In 2021: 4 kept
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SAFETY (4)
- Tyrann Mathieu
- Marcus Maye
- CJ Gardner-Johnson
- JT Gray
In 2021: 5 kept
NOTES: I broke up corner and safety above, but they’re getting one writeup because it's impossible to really break apart in this context. Bryce Thompson and PJ Williams are both listed at CB, but they make the roster because of their abilities to move around and fill in at safety and nickel, particularly early in the season. If Thompson doesn’t show the improvement necessary to bet on him, you likely turn to one of the true safety options in Justin Evans or Daniel Sorenson. Either way that last DB slot will be an interesting battle to watch, as will how many get kept. At this point it’s 10 DBs, but there could easily be more.
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SPECIALISTS (3)
- K Wil Lutz
- P Blake Gillikin
- LS Zack Wood
In 2021: 4 kept (Lutz to PUP/IR)
NOTES: Welcome back, Wil. Let’s knock on wood for a boring specialists season, because when they’re boring it’s usually a sign they’re doing a good job. Gillikin's role also doesn't feel like it's in question considering his performance from a season ago, but Dan Whelan has been impressive during OTAs and minicamp.
PUNTER (1)
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CLOSE/PRACTICE SQUAD
- WR Dai’Jean Dixon
- WR Rashid Shaheed
- WR Easop Winston
- WR Kirk Merritt
- TE Lucas Krull
- RB Abram Smith
- RB Tony Jones Jr.
- S Smoke Monday
- S Daniel Sorenson
- OL Forrest Lamp
- OL Ethan Greenidge
- FB Adam Prentice
- DT Jordan Jackson
NOTES: This year's practice squad expands to 14 and there a handful of notable inclusions. We haven't gotten to see Shaheed at all yet, but he's a return ace who has obvious upside to keep around. The other three WRs are all intriguing options, but end up on the outside due to the sudden depth at the position. But health isn't guaranteed, and it's rarely around for long. Any of those four could climb onto the final roster if there's an injury or other issues, though it's tough to see a scenario where the team justifies carrying seven WRs onto its final roster. Dixon, a New Orleans native, is particularly intriguing as the lone member of that group that could be called a "big-body WR." The team has shown a tendency to want to keep a 6-4 pass-catcher on the roster, even if he's not leveraged in the passing game constantly. In the past that was Lil'Jordan Humphrey, but he's now with the Patriots. Dixon could be that guy this time around. ... One of the Saints' four draft picks also ends up here in the form of Jordan Jackson, another example of why their strategy of quality over quantity is a fair one. What's the point of making 7 draft picks a year if you can't find a roster spot for them? In this scenario, the Saints sneak Jackson onto the practice squad, though I could see him playing his way onto the roster with a good camp.