The majority of attention at New Orleans Saints camp has been on the QB competition, but it's two defensive rookies that caught the eye of Audacy NFL Insider Brian Baldinger.
Watching practice at the Saints facility on Sunday, rookie LB Danny Stutsman and CB Quincy Riley were two of the bigger standouts, Baldinger said on SportsTalk. They'll have to supplant some veterans, but he sees both as having legitimate claims to potentially start in their rookie seasons.
"A lot of guys have been in that position next to Demario [Davis] over 8 years since he’s been here. ... I don’t think it’s farfetched that [Stutsman] could win that other job," Baldinger told Mike Detillier and Bobby Hebert. "I’m not saying [Pete Werner's] not gonna get it and he’s not the guy, but I think Danny is gonna push him."
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Stutsman has been a clear standout of the first 10 days of camp and he was busy early and often during the 126-play scrimmage that marked the longest day of practice to this point. The former Sooner standout has also gotten work with the 1s when Davis or Werner wasn't on the field.
"You talk about the swag and swag is real," Baldy continued. "Like, I feel like that's a guy that could step in and upgrade this defensive front."
As far as Riley, the other fourth-round pick has had multiple highlights throughout camp and has two interceptions. He missed another spectacular interception during the scrimmage on a jump ball as he covered Chris Olave in the red zone. In his case it'll be veteran Isaac Yiadom the rookie would have to beat out.
"I think they’re still a corner short. I saw Isaac Yiadom start yesterday, but it’s not to say that Quincy Riley can’t go out there and challenge him," Baldinger said, "because I think we feel pretty good about Kool-Aid at one corner, I think we feel pretty good about Alontae in the slot, where he’s been really good, but I feel like the other corner, there’s an opening there for somebody to step up and take that job."
