The New Orleans Saints will finally get their full roster on the field this week for mandatory minicamp, and with that we'll start to get a picture of some of the true roster battles.
Every year coaches are ready with the line that there's always a competition and everyone is earning their jobs every day. But let's be real: Some competitions just mean a bit more, and that's the case for several key jobs on the Saints offense and defense this preseason.
We broke it all down on the latest episode of Inside Black & Gold. Can't see the player above? Click here.
Scroll below for a quick breakdown of each battle, some of which are for starting jobs, others for specific roles, and others are for players who just have a bit to prove heading into the 2024 season.
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SPECIAL TEAMS
There's not a ton to talk about here, at least not at this point. Charlie Smyth and Matt Hayball are in the mix and will do what they can to compete for the starting punter and kicker role, but unless something changes drastically it's hard to imagine a true competition -- at least not at this point.
Where there will be a competition is for the second returner, a position that will now exist every week with the new kickoff rule. Players like Mason Tipton, Jermaine Jackson, Alontae Taylor, Kendre Miller and even Taysom Hill have gotten work already, but it's going to be tough to bet against Kool-Aid McKinstry in that role alongside Rashid Shaheed when you consider it was an area he excelled at in college and coaches will be looking for ways to get him on the field as a rookie.
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DEFENSE
WILL LINEBACKER: Willie Gay and Pete Werner
Let's start by saying that I think both of these players will be used a good bit, even with everyone healthy. Willie Gaye brings a level of athleticism to this group that will be fun to deploy. That said, I think it's pretty clear that this team wanted to light a bit of a fire under Pete Werner heading into a contract season, and we'll see how he handles it.
There's no doubt that Werner had a bit of a down year in 2023 after an incredible start to the 2022 season. If we don't see a return to the form, don't be surprised if the veteran and former Kansas City Chief takes over in that spot -- at least in some packages.
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CB3/SLOT: Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry
We won't really get any answers here until training camp with Kool-Aid McKinstry still working back from injury, that said, his deployment will be of legitimate interest all preseason. Assuming there are no changes and the outside starters are Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, that'll leave a pair of second-round picks in Kool-Aid and Alontae competing for one starting position in the slot.
So, who is better? Logic would dictate that Taylor in Year 3 should be the pick, but what if Kool-Aid just looks better inside. Head coach Dennis Allen indicated he'd get run both inside and outside as a rookie. Whomever doesn't land that starting gig would most likely slot in as the top backup option on the outside and fill the same role as Isaac Yiadom, which we've seen can be a premium position with any injuries. We should see Kool-Aid get back into individual drills this week.
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DE3: Isaiah Foskey, Chase Young and Payton Turner
This one is a bit tougher to project because there should be something of a rotation along the defensive line. Cam Jordan and Carl Granderson are secure in their early down roles, but do you consider moving off Cam on passing downs for someone who can get after the QB a bit better? That's something we'll have to find out as things go on.
Regardless, the question of who comes off the bench first is a legitimate one. Chase Young signed a lucrative 1-year deal, and assuming health he should be that guy. That said, we don't expect to see him until camp. In the meantime it'll be between Isaiah Foskey and Payton Turner to win those snaps. Who does it? Getting production out of one or both of those players -- Turner is also in a contract year -- would feel like found money for this group.
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3-TECH: Nathan Shepherd and Bryan Bresee
It's easy to lump all of the interior linemen together, but that's really how it works. Khalen Saunders is more of a nose and a run-stuffer, and I think his role is pretty secure. But the guy next to him? That's a different question.
Last year Nathan Shepherd was the guy on early downs, with Bresee taking over in pass rush sets. The rookie is longer and has to work on his pad level and at times you could see him getting taken for a ride. Low man wins when it comes to run blocking. So the question: Has he improved in that department. You don't draft a first-round defensive tackle unless you feel he can be a three-down player. I don't necessarily think he has to do that to have a successful Year 2, but at some point you'll want to see him be a more effective run downs player.
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NASCAR: Cam Jordan, Payton Turner and Carl Granderson
Last year the Saints had a good bit of production when they shifted Tanoh Kpassagnon inside and let him combo rush with Bresee. Well, Kpassagnon is out of that picture now after suffering a torn Achilles. I can't imagine those sets just go away.
So, who do you look for in those instances? I wouldn't hate to see Cam add that to his bag this year, but it could also be a role for Turner if he can stay on the field. Granderson also seems to have the size/speed/length combo that'd work in that role. This is less of a competition as it is a question, because I'd like to see someone own that role.
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STRONG SAFETY: Jordan Howden and Johnathan Abram
The Saints don't really operate with traditional safety labels, so take this to mean the player next to Tyrann Mathieu, whatever they're asked to do. I lean toward Abram in this conversation after his strong finish to the 2023 season. He's a veteran presence that has the respect of his teammates and coaches. His ceiling might not be the highest, but I certainly know what to expect.
That said, Howden has an opportunity to take that Year 2 leap that is so common across the NFL. If he can, this is a job he could certainly win. If not, he's still a valuable player who would take dime responsibilities and I wouldn't mind some cross-training in the slot.
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OFFENSE
QB2: Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler
I'm only including this because it's what people want to talk about. Right now I kind of see it as both players competing with themselves. Haener is out there competing to show that he can be an NFL backup. Rattler is out there competing to show that he can be an NFL player.
If either player is going into this with the idea that it's Haener vs Rattler, they shouldn't be out there at all. If Rattler can put together some solid days this week maybe the tone is different heading into camp, but right now I kind of feel like the backup job is Haener's to lose.
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RB2: Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller
For now I'll keep things simple here, because the investment in both these players feels like this is where they should be. Williams has looked the part thus far in VERY limited action. The team brought him in for a reason and they'll hope that 2023 was an aberration.
To this point Miller hasn't flashed much, and that's disappointing. Still he's got plenty of time to flash that consistency. I think one of these two players will win the job, and it's just a matter of who jumps up and takes it.
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RB3: Jamaal Williams or Kendre Miller and Jordan Mims
This is a weird one because I think it's directly affected by the RB2 battle. If Jamaal Williams isn't that guy, I just have a hard time seeing him sticking around (barring him accepting a pay cut). He just gets paid too much to justify sticking him in the RB3 role, which is going to be one expected to contribute on special teams. That's a different conversation if it's Kendre, a young player in Year 2 of his rookie deal.
That's why I give Jordan Mims a legitimate chance here depending on how things shake out ahead of him. One thing he can do to really strengthen his argument: Show out on special teams. Remember Dwayne Washington? I can assure you he didn't stick around all those year because of his abilities between the tackles.
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WR3: A.T. Perry and Cedrick Wilson
The Saints have clear answers with their top two WRs in Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, but who comes next on that list? At this point it's tough to say, though A.T. Perry would probably be the preferred option as a young player with elite size and solid production to close out last season.
The wild card is Cedrick Wilson, a player with familiarity with the new scheme that's being run and someone who might serve as the adult in the room. I still think both guys make the roster, it's just a question of how you order them on the depth chart.
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LG: Nick Saldiveri, Shane Lemiux and Lucas Patrick
You could swap in a few different names as potential options, but I think the first two are the most likely contenders to start at left guard. Nick Saldiveri is going to get a chance to compete, and that's a good thing for a player who didn't get much opportunity in his rookie season. But can you really stomach playing a rookie at left tackle next to a left guard making his NFL debut in Week 1?
I expect at some point this preseason you'll flip that and get the veteran Lemieux in there, but we'll see. Either way it'll be something to watch.
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RT: Trevor Penning, Landon Young and Oli Udoh
The Saints are going to give Trevor Penning every opportunity to win the job at right tackle, but what if he just can't hack it? The Saints will have to have a backup plan and be willing to pivot, and I'd guess that's one of Landon Young or Oli Udoh.
We haven't seen Udoh on the field yet, and Penning has looked solid with some growing pains. We'll see how that develops.
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TE1: Juwan Johnson vs himself
As loud as some Dallin Holker fans are sure to be this offseason, the Saints don't have a starting tight end waiting in the wings behind Juwan and Foster Moreau. Those are the guys, and we can watch Dallin and hope he develops over time.
That said, the Saints invested in Juwan last year and the result wasn't optimal. There were injuries and limited production, but we did see toward the end of the season the vision that was there from the start. Can we get back to more of that? If so, great. If not, we could be heading for another season with no real TE weapon, which will be tough to overcome.
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