The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down most major sports including the NFL.
Because of the closures, offseason training activities that normally would have been in May have switched to a digital format.
The pandemic, however, hasn’t stopped teams from making roster moves. The Saints have made several additions in free agency and the draft. New Orleans’ roster will look very similar to last season’s, but features several new faces at key positions.
WWL Radio will take a look at each Saints position group over the next several days.
Here’s a look at the Saints' 2020 roster starting with the quarterbacks.
Roster: Drew Brees, Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston, Tommy Stevens
Notable moves: Brees resigned with the Saints earlier this year, after announcing he’d be back for his 20th NFL season. Hill signed a two-year extension that is reportedly worth $21 million. Winston signed with the Saints as a free agent, after leading the NFL in passing yards in 2019. The Saints drafted Stevens in the seventh round of the 2020 draft.
Outlook: Brees returns as the starter after a Pro Bowl campaign in 2019. He threw for 2,979 yards and 27 touchdowns, while completing 74.3 percent of his passes. Brees missed five games last season with a thumb injury and Teddy Bridgewater went 5-0 as a starter for the Saints. Bridgewater signed a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. Backing up Brees in 2020 will be former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston agreed to a 1-year deal with the Saints the same week Hill signed a two-year extension.
Hill expects to be used in a similar role as last season. In 2019, he scored seven total touchdowns, six receiving and one rushing, while tallying 390 yards from scrimmage. Hill also contributed on special teams, although he thinks he may do less with that unit in 2020. Stevens, however, might see more of those snaps.
The Saints made a move to get back into day three of the 2020 NFL Draft to pick the former Mississippi State quarterback, who coach Sean Payton said could have a role similar to Hill’s.
