The New Orleans Saints have one more dress rehearsal before they have to make 37 difficult decisions, so let's figure out where everything stands.
The Saints and the rest of the NFL have until 3 p.m. Tuesday (central) to cut from 90 players to their in-season 53-man rosters. There will be changes after the fact and many of those cuts will return on the practice squad, but those tough conversations will have to happen regardless.
So who is safe and who still has some work to do?
Here's my final 53-man roster projection ahead of the preseason finale. This time, yes, I am projecting a depth chart order. If a player's name is bolded, that's because I could see them either missing (if they're projected to make the roster) or vice versa, depending on how things go against the Broncos on Saturday or how the team views that position's depth needs.
For transparency's sake ... here's how these projections have looked previously:
- Pre-OTAs (5/19)
- After preseason opener (8/13)
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QUARTERBACK (3)
- Spencer Rattler
- Jake Haener
- Tyler Shough
CUT
NONE
WHY: There's no one being cut here because Hunter Dekkers is already off the roster. I still expect him to return on the practice squad. I know a lot of folks might look at this and wonder why the Saints are keeping Haener around, and it's honestly pretty simple: Having a depth QB that knows your offense doesn't seem valuable until you need it, then it's worth its weight in gold. It's easy to sit and not prepare for injuries, but they happen. You can have three QBs available (one as an emergency option) and that's what they'll do. I also think teams will operate differently during initial cutdowns than they might during the season. Every team in the NFL is going to be on high alert for potential QB waiver claims on cutdown day, but that changes a lot once the season starts. Recall Ian Book a few years back? I don't think many people expected him to get claimed on waivers. If the Saints have a QB injury at any point, they'll be glad Haener's around.
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RUNNING BACK/FULLBACK (4)
- Alvin Kamara
- Kendre Miller
- Devin Neal
- Velus Jones Jr.
CUT
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Cam Akers
Marcus Yarns
WHY: I really wanted to find a way to keep Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the roster and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they did, but at this point I just see the dynamic athlete in Velus Jones Jr. as way more likely to have an immediate impact. He'll be active on multiple special teams units (at least if he can convince coaches he won't be liable for more bonehead coverage penalties). I'm sure the Saints would be motivated to get CEH to the practice squad if they can. The other big question is Devin Neal, who would really help his case by playing well in the preseason finale. He's been hurt, but investment always helps in this conversation, and I think it's way more likely a team scoops him up on waivers as a speculative addition than any of these other guys. I can't help thinking back to Boston Scott, who the Saints drafted and kept on the roster before trying and failing to stash on the practice squad. I don't want to see that happen again.
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TIGHT END (3)
- Juwan Johnson
- Jack Stoll
- Moliki Matavao
CUT
Treyton Welch
Michael Jacobson
Seth Green
PUP: Taysom Hill, Foster Moreau
WHY: I'm again taking the easy way out here and stealing a couple roster spots with Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau heading to in-season PUP, which would mean they miss at least the first 4 weeks. There's been nothing to this point that would indicate that's not going to happen. This position is concerning to me from a depth perspective, but I think the two top two are solid in terms of a strong pass-catcher (Johnson) and a strong (blocker). Hopefully those two guys can stay healthy until one of Moreau or Hill can get back. I think Welch has caught the eye of coaches and he'll be a priority practice squad guy, and the same to a lesser extent for Jacobson. Matavao is a rookie with measurables that profile well to the blocking role. They could opt to try to stash him, as well, if they choose to use the numbers differently.
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WIDE RECEIVER (5)
- Chris Olave
- Rashid Shaheed
- Devaugn Vele
- Brandin Cooks
- Mason Tipton
CUT
Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Dante Pettis
Kevin Austin Jr.
Moochie Dixon
Roderick Daniels Jr.
IR: Bub Means
WHY: One of the bigger changes on this projection is due to the addition of Devaughn Vele, who slots in immediately as my big-bodied WR who can be a legitimate asset in the run game, red zone and as a chain-mover. The question will be whether the Saints are confident he'll be ready to take on that role in Week 1, in which case Cedrick Wilson probably sticks around and you find a spot elsewhere (the third TE would be my cut). Pettis is a player that I really like, but his primary utility at this point is as a backup punt returner and I expect he'll land safely on the practice squad for call-ups when needed. Tipton is on the roster, no question.
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OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
- LT Kelvin Banks
- LG Trevor Penning
- C Erik McCoy
- RG Cesar Ruiz
- RT Taliese Fuaga
- Landon Young
- Dillon Radunz
- Torricelli Simpkins III
- Luke Fortner
CUT
Josiah Ezirim
Shane Lemieux
Kyle Hergel
Easton Kilty
Jonathan Mendoza
Barry Wesley
Mike Panasciuk
IR: Nick Saldiveri, Will Clapp
WHY: This was an easy position to project at the top, but it got complicated down the line. One big question I have in the preseason finale is whether the Saints opt to keep hammering Simpkins at center or hand the backup role to Fortner, whom they acquired from the Jaguars in exchange for DT Khalen Saunders. Either way I think Simpkins has played well enough that you might lose him on waivers to an OL depth needy team, so my cut is Ezirim, who I'm very confident I can stash. The funny thing is that despite cutting Ezirim, he's still the best option as your second backup OT (along with Landon Young), so he could very easily get called up before Simpkins ends up ever being active for a game. We'll also find out pretty quickly whether Penning's injury is more long-term than the team is letting on. If they don't expect him back in the first month of the season, I'd bet he lands on IR. At this point I don't think that's the case, but we'll have to wait and see.
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EDGE (4)
- Chase Young
- Carl Granderson
- Cam Jordan
- Fadil Diggs
CUT
Chris Rumph
Isaiah Foskey
Jasheen Davis
Jeremiah Martin
WHY: One of the changes I'm making for this projection is separating edge rushers and defensive tackles, because they are completely different positions and it no longer makes sense to combine them as a position group. Assuming everyone is healthy I see four total with a three-man rotation as being the play. I've previously had Chris Rumph on here but I had to make a tough decision somewhere. He sticks around on the practice squad if I can get him there. The decision was between him and Diggs, but when it's close I'm always going to err toward the draft picks. It's not always close, though, as we've found out for one third-year player.
Related
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IDL (5)
- Bryan Bresee
- Nathan Shepherd
- Davon Godchaux
- Khristian Boyd
- Vernon Broughton
CUT
Omari Thomas
Jonathon Bullard
Jayden Peevy
IR-return (projected): John Ridgeway
WHY: The Khalen Saunders trade and John Ridgeway injury has simplified this position immensely. Bresee and Godchaux were no-brainers throughout, and the decision to have Shepherd inactive against the Jaguars is telling that he's safe on the roster. Boyd becomes the backup nose and despite not having the most impactful camp, I'm sticking with my third round pick in Broughton as he develops. Thomas and Bullard have both had nice moments throughout camp and would be prime candidates to stick around on the practice squad.
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LINEBACKER (6)
- Demario Davis
- Pete Werner
- D’Marco Jackson
- Danny Stutsman
- Jaylan Ford
- Isaiah Stalbird
CUT
Nephi Sewell
Tyreem Powell
WHY: No changes here, but this is a position I'm eager to see whether I'm right about. Six inside linebackers is more than you'd expect, but all of those players have been consistent contributors and will fill a clear role on special teams. Stalbird and Ford are the closest to the line, but I just see both as young, athletic players with bright futures that always seem to find a way to be around the ball. It's also fitting that the Broncos and former special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is back in town, because he might have some extra swing on a waiver claim this year for special teamers that he spent time scouting and developing. The Saints would be wise to consider that in their cuts, because sneaking a standout special teamer to the practice squad might be more difficult this year. Keeping six linebackers will make for a roster crunch elsewhere, but I'm willing to figure it out for talented players.
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CORNERBACK (5)
- Alontae Taylor
- Kool-Aid McKinstry
- Isaac Yiadom
- Quincy Riley
- Rico Payton
CUT
Jayden Price
Rezjohn Wright
Dalys Beanum
WHY: The top four on this list are no-brainers, but we'll have to wait and see on Alontae Taylor's injury. It's been notably quiet on his front, and it's impossible not to wonder if there's something contract-related happening in the background. Regardless, he's on the roster and I expect him back for Week 1. At this stage I'm keeping Payton for his special teams chops, but Price and Wright have both had strong camps and could make a legitimate argument that they deserve the spot. I think you keep five, we'll just have to wait and see whether it's this five.
Related
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SAFETY (5)
- Justin Reid
- Julian Blackmon
- Jonas Sanker
- J.T. Gray
- Ugo Amadi
CUT
Terrell Burgess
Jordan Howden
Elliott Davison
WHY: Jonas Sanker has earned an immediate role, in my opinion, and I think that comes at the expense of Howden. Both are young players, but I'm already seeing Sanker do the things I was hoping to see out of the other young safety and former draft pick. Burgess has been dealing with an unfortunately timed injury and I think Amadi is the backup in the star role, meaning Burgess is likely a practice squad candidate. If Taylor is healthy you could also go the route of keeping just four safeties and prioritizing another position with that roster spot. Until I know the availability of No. 1, I'm hedging my bets.
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SPECIALISTS (3)
- Blake Grupe
- Kai Kroeger
- Zach Wood
CUT
James Burnip
Charlie Smyth
WHY: I still couldn't tell you high or low whether it'll be Burnip or Kroeger as the punter. I'm honestly not sure if either has done anything to make me think Mr. Outside Hire isn't on the table here after cutdowns. That said I've seen Kroeger be a bit more consistent and he's been holding for Grupe, the for-sure starting kicker. This is one of the few positions that I think could genuinely be decided in the final preseason game.
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PRACTICE SQUAD (17*)
- QB Hunter Dekkers
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
- RB Marcus Yarns
- WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.
- WR Dante Pettis
- TE Michael Jacobson
- TE Treyton Welch
- G/C Shane Lemieux
- G/C Kyle Hergel
- OT Josiah Ezirim
- OT Jonathan Mendoza
- DT Jonathan Bullard
- LB Nephi Sewell
- Edge Chris Rumph
- CB Rezjohn Wright
- DB Terrell Burgess
- K Charlie Smyth (IPP*)