It's the rare quiet time for the NFL and New Orleans Saints, a time that could also be known as "meaningless ratings/rankings season."
And with exactly that in mind, we've got a full position-by-position breakdown on Inside Black & Gold, rating every position group on a five-attribute scale to identify the greatest strength and weaknesses of the current Saints roster.
The methodology? It's mostly arbitrary, but each position group was graded on a 0-10 scale across five categories that include:
- Starter quality
- Depth
- Dependability (in both health/availability & performance)
- Track record (measured both statistically & in big moments)
- Playoff experience
Listen to the full breakdown on today's episode of Inside Black & Gold. Can't see the player above? Click here.
The goal was to gain a non-traditional look from a wide lens to help show which position groups appear to be the strongest heading into a 2023 training camp that features a wide range of fascinating storylines. Here's how I ranked the positions, starting at the bottom:
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TIGHT ENDS: 28.5
- Starter(s): 6.5
- Depth: 7
- Dependability: 7
- Track record: 6
- Playoff experience: 2
NOTES: I like Juwan Johnson. I like Foster Moreau. Taysom Hill is intriguing and heck, Lucas Krull seems like he could make an impact down the road. But the fact is these ratings are evaluative, not predictive. Juwan did some very intriguing things in 2022, but he also disappeared for long stretches. That and a lack of playoff experience really hold this grade a lot lower than it probably should be.
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QUARTERBACK: 29
- Starter(s): 6.5
- Depth: 8
- Dependability: 6.5
- Track record: 6
- Playoff experience: 2
NOTES: Oh hey, virtually identical. A position with intriguing starters and a lot of depth, but at this point completely unproven in the postseason and with a concerning habit of disappearing for long stretches. That could change this season, and I'm betting it will, but for now I'm in wait-and-see mode, and no one on the Saints QB roster has done anything in the postseason. I weight that heavily across the board, but particularly at the QB position.
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DEFENSIVE TACKLE: 29.5
- Starter(s): 6
- Depth: 6
- Dependability: 6
- Track record: 4
- Playoff experience: 7.5
NOTES: This is one of the more concerning positions on the team, but unlike the first two, it's saved by some healthy experience in the postseason. Realistically that weight all falls on Khalen Saunders, who won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs earlier this year and I'm counting on to help instill that pedigree on a young DT group. If Bryan Bresee stands out, this group could impress, but there are a lot of question marks if he can't deliver in Year 1.
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LINEBACKER: 30
- Starter(s): 9
- Depth: 3
- Dependability: 6.5
- Track record: 5.5
- Playoff experience: 5
NOTES: One of the more fascinating positions on the roster, and also the most top-heavy. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better starting linebacker duo across the NFL, but what happens when one of them goes down? Hopefully Pete Werner can kick his injury issues of last season, but what might've happened if Kaden Elliss wasn't there to pick up the slack last year? I've got concerns, and that's reflected in this grade.
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DEFENSIVE END: 31
- Starter(s): 7
- Depth: 6
- Dependability: 6.5
- Track record: 6.5
- Playoff experience: 5
NOTES: If we had Cam Jordan rated as his own position, he'd be far higher than the overall DE grade. It's a testament to how good and dependable he's been that the overall group is in the middle. One of Payton Turner or Isaiah Foskey needs to take control across from him. If they can do that, I feel a lot better. If they can't, and we see another year of Cam Jordan double-teams and limited production across the board, it could be a long year.
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OFFENSIVE LINE: 31
- Starter(s): 8
- Depth: 7.5
- Dependability: 4
- Track record: 6
- Playoff experience: 5.5
NOTES: The most frustrating group to analyze, because it's possibly the greatest collection of raw talent on the roster. The starting five should be considered among the best in the NFL top to bottom, it's four first-round picks and a high second rounder. The problem is they're rarely on the field at the same time. The dependability grade seriously hampers the overall score. If that changes, this group could shine.
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WIDE RECEIVER: 32.5
- Starter(s): 9
- Depth: 7.5
- Dependability: 5
- Track record: 6
- Playoff experience: 5
NOTES: This writeup will be virtually identical to the OL group. Can the trio of Michael Thomas, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed be available a majority of the time? If so, this group can be among the most dangerous in the NFL, and depth options with legitimate NFL experience aren't too shabby, either. For the offense to be consistent, this group has to show up.
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SAFETY: 33
- Starter(s): 7
- Depth: 6
- Dependability: 6.5
- Track record: 6
- Playoff experience: 7.5
NOTES: I'm a big Tyrann Mathieu fan for a lot of reasons, one of those being the qualities that tend to get ignored. He's as much of a leader of this group as you'll find, something that's impressive in only Year 2. He's respected. He's won a Super Bowl. He's still playing at a high level. Marcus Maye is intriguing, but can he stay on the field? Jordan Howden has impressed thus far. There are interesting depth options. I think the safeties are in good shape.
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RUNNING BACK: 33
- Starter(s): 8.5
- Depth: 7.5
- Dependability: 4
- Track record: 7
- Playoff experience: 6
NOTES: This grade should be so much higher, and the RB room can look at Alvin Kamara with the side eye for that. It's hard to consider a group particularly dependable when you're expecting to be without the best player for at least 6 games. How the Saints manage that could be the story of the season. Kamara's injury absence in 2021 was a huge factor in missing the postseason, hopefully that's not something we're saying again after 2023. Beyond that, there's a ton to like with this group. Kamara will still be elite for the games you have him. Jamaal Williams is a veteran you trust, and Kendre Miller is a young weapon we'll all be excited to see get going.
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CORNERBACK: 41.5
- Starter(s): 9
- Depth: 9
- Dependability: 8
- Track record: 8
- Playoff experience: 7.5
NOTES: If there's a reason to be excited about the Saints this year, it's because of the fact that you play in a league where you really need elite outside corner play, and that's exactly what the Saints have. They also have a capable slot corner in Bradley Roby, who can kick outside if needed. Marshon Lattimore just might be the best man corner in the NFL (it's a debate that can be had) and whether it's Paulson Adebo or Alontae Taylor winning the job across from him, it's an embarrassment of riches. The issue last year was health. If Marshon doesn't miss such a big chunk of last year with that freak issue, I think the Saints land in the postseason. Either way, your stars win you games, and I expect that to be the case with this group in 2023.
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