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.
Monday we broke down the Saints’ 2020 quarterbacks. Here’s an overview of who those QBs will throw too — the wide receivers
Roster: Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harris, Emmanuel Butler, Austin Carr, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Tommylee Lewis, Taquan Mizzell, Juwan Johnson, Tim White, Krishawn Hogan, Maurice Harris, Marquez Callaway.
Notable moves: The Saints signed veteran receiver Emmanuel Butler to a two-year deal, re-signed Austin Carr and Tommylee Lewis and added undrafted free agents Juwan Johnson from Oregon and Marquez Callaway out of Tennessee
Outlook: Michael Thomas is coming off of a historic season which saw him set the NFL record for receptions in a single season with 149 and break his own franchise record for yards with 1,725. The Saints second-leading receiver in 2019, Ted Ginn Jr., signed with the Chicago Bears this offseason but New Orleans added veteran Emmanuel Sanders. Sanders is coming off a Super Bowl appearance with the San Francisco 49ers and caught 66 passes for 869 yards and five touchdowns last season. He also threw a touchdown pass against the Saints last year.
Aside from the addition of Sanders, the Saints’ receiving corps will consist mostly of players who were with the team last season, including All-Pro kick returner Deonte Harris. Tre’Quan Smith, Austin Carr, Krishawn Hogan and Lil’Jordan Humphrey all return as well as Emmanuel Butler who spent all of the 2019 season on the practice squad and after starring for the Saints in training camp.
New Orleans also brought back receiver Tommylee Lewis who previously spent three seasons with the franchise.
A look at the Saints’ 2020 roster: Quarterbacks