Skip to content

Condition: Post with Page_List

Sign Up
Advertise with Us
Connect

Ask your smart speaker to
play W W L on Audacy

Call us: (504) 260-1870
Contact Us
Listen
Search
Please enter at least 3 characters.

Latest Stories

Video

New Orleans Saints roster battles: What's on the line at 2024 training camp? | Inside Black & Goldplay icon
Saints

New Orleans Saints roster battles: What's on the line at 2024 training camp? | Inside Black & Gold

Jeff Nowak
By Jeff NowakJul 18, 2024
Jeff Nowak
See Full Bio
Follow:

Training camp for the New Orleans Saints is right around the corner, and that means so is the start of several competitions for key roles up and down the roster.

So exactly what are they? On the latest episode of the Inside Black & Gold podcast we identified 12 competitions, half of them for what would be considered "starting roles" that could be up for grabs based on performances over the next month. Check out the full breakdown in the player below.

Can't see the player above? Click here.

This is an update to a roster battles projection from earlier this offseason, but this time we ranked them by a confidence index. At the top will be the position battles that seem tilted most heavily in one direction, and as you go down the list it becomes more and more of a tossup. See the full list below, and listen to the pod for a more intensive breakdown at each spot.

━━
SEGMENT 1: Don't expect a real kicker competition (click here to listen)

PUNTER: Lou Hedley vs Matthew Hayball
- RIGHT NOW: Hedley 90%

PLACEKICKER: Blake Grupe vs Charlie Smyth
- RIGHT NOW: Grupe 85%

- WHY: I'm going to group both specialists together here and say that while there will technically be a competition at both kicker and punter, I just don't see it amounting to much real roster pressure. Both Grupe and Hedley are in the same situation as players coming off their rookie seasons and they'll be given opportunities to correct whatever inconsistencies might've dogged them in that initial campaign. That's just the deal when you go with rookie specialists, and if that was an uncomfortable situation, there's no reason to double down with another rookie this year if you don't have to. For Grupe he needs to cut out the short misses and work on being a bit more consistent in big moments. The latter part should come with experience. For Hedley he needs to show that his offseason work has paid off and get some more distance on field-flipping opportunities. I expect this'll end up being something of a redshirt season for Smyth, a cannon-legged international player who has never kicked in an actual football game. The Saints can keep hm on the practice squad in the newly created international slot, and I expect that's exactly what will happen.

━━
SLOT CORNERBACK: Alontae Taylor vs Kool-Aid McKinstry
- RIGHT NOW: Taylor 75%

- WHY: This is different from the situation above, but I feel like it'll play out similarly. Alontae Taylor isn't coming off his rookie season, but he is coming off his first season in the slot role. That's something that coaches are well aware of, and I expect he'll be given every opportunity to improve in the areas that he struggled a year ago, particularly late in the year. It's worth noting that this time last year he was competing with Paulson Adebo to be the starting outside corner, so he didn't get to focus on the slot throughout camp with Bradley Roby taking first-team reps. That's not the case this time around. It'll be intriguing to watch rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry in that role, but I expect his rookie season will be primarily spent focusing on getting up to speed as the potential backup in both the slot and outside, as well as ample special teams work.

Saints new depth at LB creates clear position battle, flexibility and hopefully a postseason return

━━
WILL LINEBACKER (starter): Pete Werner vs Willie Gay
- RIGHT NOW: Werner 70%

- NOTES: Willie Gay's addition to the Saints defense is an interesting one, because regardless of whether he ends up being your starting will linebacker, I expect him to be on the field quite a bit. I think you’re going to see that third linebacker used in coverage more often. Gay was in coverage on about 45% of his snaps with the Chiefs last year. For Baun that was less than 20%. How much he can actually push Pete Werner remains to be seen. The former 2nd round pick is heading into a contract year and I think he'd really have to fall flat on his face to not at least get a shot to earn that next contract. Still, we've yet to see Werner return to the form he started 2022 with. Maybe some extra roster pressure can tease that out of him again.

-----------------
SEGMENT 2: All eyes on the backup QB (click here to listen)

STRONG SAFETY (starter): Johnathan Abram vs Jordan Howden
- RIGHT NOW: Abram 65%

- NOTES: This is an odd one, because it was Jordan Howden on the roster all season taking a lot more reps than the veteran Johnathan Abram. But when you look back at the 2023 season and the games where this defensive scheme really shined, it was the games that Abram had a significant role (Week 5 at Patriots; Week 17 at Bucs; Week 18 vs Falcons). Howden was really solid as a rookie. I was most impressed with the tackling. I did feel like at times he would overrun things and he got a little in his own head at points, with DC Joe Woods mentioning a few times that he was trying to be too perfect at points. I still like Howden as a long-term prospect, but I expect you'll err toward the veteran early on alongside Tyrann Mathieu and allow Howden to focus on the dime role and special teams. That was the plan last year before things went haywire and Marcus Maye.

━━
QUARTERBACK (2): Jake Haener vs Spencer Rattler
- RIGHT NOW: Haener 65%

- NOTES: This is closer than I would've expected it to be after the first few OTA practices. It's saying more about Rattler than anything, with the rookie making corrections and improvements early on after some shaky performances. Still, teams are less inclined than most people think to go with a rookie backup at QB. There’s a reason career backups exist. The question here is exactly how much you’re going to value Haener’s one year of experience, considering he didn’t play a snap. If you're not viewing him as the "veteran" option, this is closer to a pickem. I expect the Saints to end up keeping three quarterbacks at the end of the day, because I'd prefer to allow the rookie QB to focus on himself this year, rather than the backup QB role. To this point Haener has also looked more like the player who could come in and win a game in relief if called upon.

━━
WIDE RECEIVER (3): A.T. Perry vs Cedrick Wilson vs Equanimeous St. Brown
- RIGHT NOW: Wilson 60%

- NOTES: You could go a few different ways here and there's more than one roster spot to be hand, but look at it this way: When you run out three-receiver sets, who is that third guy? Considering the top two options in Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are young players, I think it's likely you land on one of the veteran options here. At this point I'm going with Cedrick WIlson due to his familiarity in the scheme and solid run-blocking traits, but I think the race is wide open.

Grading the New Orleans Saints: Here's how each position stacks up in 2024 | Inside Black & Gold

━━
3-TECH (run downs): Bryan Bresee vs Nathan Shepherd
- RIGHT NOW: Shepherd 60%

NOTES: It's tough to call this a straight-up battle because all three of Bryan Bresee, Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders will be getting on the field a good bit. The only real question is whether Bresee bites into Shepherd's snap share on early downs this time around. For that to happen the former first-round pick will have to make strides against the run game, where he struggled at points last year. He doesn't have the traditional build you'd look for as a tall, long-legged interior lineman. His pad level has been an issue in the past, so those are things you want to see improve. A year ago Shepherd had more than double Bresee's snaps in run defense (303 to 148), but PFF graded both guys at just above 30. That's not a feather in the cap of either player, but if you're getting similar production, I think it's possible you turn to Bresee more often on early downs this time around.

---------------
SEGMENT 3: Will the Saints ever draft another tight end? (Click here to listen)

TIGHT END (3): Dallin Holker vs Michael Jacobson vs Jesper Horsted
- RIGHT NOW: Holker 55%

- NOTES: I expect this team to keep a third tight end, and right now it looks like an open competition for that final spot behind Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau. I’m genuinely curious about Jesper Horsted, who was signed following the final day of minicamp. Of these three guys, he’s currently the only one that’s actually done anything in an NFL game. If the Saints are going to be relying on this player to actually get on the field early in the season, it could be him. I'm still frustrated by the lack of draft investment at the tight end position over the past decade-plus. Since the 2011 season New Orleans has invested just two picks total at the position (2019: Alize Mack, 7/231; 2020: Adam Trautman, 3/105), instead opting to address the position through free agency and the UDFA pool. The results have been predictable. Still, you work with what you have, and that trio above has an opportunity, particularly Holker, to exceed expectations.

━━
RUNNING BACK (2): Jamaal Williams vs Kendre Miller
- RIGHT NOW: Williams 55%

- NOTES: I’m interested to see whether Kendre Miller is a full go to start camp. If not, this could tilt a lot more in Jamaal Williams favor. Can the veteran back who led the NFL in touchdowns a couple seasons ago re-emerge? I don’t know how much we’ll see Jamaal in the preseason, but it’ll be very important for Kendre. Remember, this time last year he was working back from the knee. That injury limited him in camp and he wasn’t ready for the start of the season.

━━
LEFT GUARD (starter): Nick Saldiveri vs Shane Lemieux
- RIGHT NOW: Saldiveri 55%

- NOTES: I wouldn’t be surprised if another name enters the mix here at some point. I’m curious to see whether there’s a rotation with the 1st team reps that we just hadn’t seen previously. Still, right now it's Saldiveri leading the group and that's a major positive for a guy who barely saw the field a year ago. With a new offensive scheme that prioritizes athleticism across the line , maybe this is the year for him to step in full-time. I still have a hard time seeing the team devoting three OL spots to young, untested players on Week 1. We'll see how it goes, particularly once the pads come on.

Under pressure? These Saints players face the highest stakes in 2024 | Inside Black & Gold

━━
DEFENSIVE END (3): Chase Young vs Isaiah Foskey vs Payton Turner
- RIGHT NOW: pickem

- NOTES: Until I see Chase Young on the field I’m not going to hand him anything, and neither is the team. He’s going to have to earn it. I’m not sure what more Payton Turner can do in terms of health, considering he was one of only a handful of players to participate in every camp practice last year and we still saw an injury cost him 90% of the season. Here’s the thing, though … if Foskey outplays Chase Young in camp, you don’t think this team will have an incentive to get him on the field? This was a second round pick and you’re hoping he’s the DE of the future across from Granderson. It’s on him to earn it.

━━

Check out Inside Black & Gold wherever you get your podcasts
LINKS: Apple | Spotify | Audacy ... remember to rate and subscribe!

Up next

Trump claims that Iran wants to make a deal, says US and other countries will keep Hormuz open
Video

Trump claims that Iran wants to make a deal, says US and other countries will keep Hormuz open

NationalVideoVideoVideoVideoVideoNewsNationalNewsNationalNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalVideowticthesky973Videokcbsradiowwltalk980amkdawnwccoradiokmoxkdkaradioVideokmbzNewswwjnewsradio1210wphtVideowbenwbbm780VideokrldVideo971talkknssVideoNewsNewsNewsNationalNewsNationalVideoVideoMost PopularGoogle News FeedNewsVideoVideoVideo
Retired Air Force general goes missing
Video

Retired Air Force general goes missing

NationalVideoVideoVideoVideoVideoNewsNationalNewsNationalNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalVideowticthesky973Videokcbsradiowwltalk980amkdawnwccoradiokmoxkdkaradioVideokmbzNewswwjnewsradio1210wphtVideowbenwbbm780VideokrldVideo971talkknssVideoNewsNewsNewsNationalNewsNationalVideoVideoMost PopularGoogle News FeedNewsVideoVideoVideo
Suspect identified, motive under investigation in West Bloomfield Temple Israel synagogue attack
Video

Suspect identified, motive under investigation in West Bloomfield Temple Israel synagogue attack

LocalVideoVideoVideoVideoVideoNewsNationalNewsNationalNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalVideowticthesky973Videokcbsradiowwltalk980amkdawnwccoradiokmoxkdkaradioVideokmbzNewswwjnewsradio1210wphtVideowbenwbbm780VideokrldVideo971talkknssVideoNewsNewsNewsNationalNewsNationalVideoVideoMost PopularGoogle News FeedNewsVideoVideoVideo
Costco shoppers sue over tariffs
Video

Costco shoppers sue over tariffs

NationalVideoVideoVideoVideoVideoNewsNationalNewsNationalNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalwticthesky973Videokcbsradiowwltalk980amkdawnkmoxkdkaradioVideokmbzNewswwjnewsradio1210wphtVideowbenwbbm780VideokrldVideo971talkknssVideoNewsNewsNewsNationalNewsNationalVideoVideoMost PopularGoogle News FeedNewsVideoVideoVideo
You can now ask Google Maps complex, 'real world' questions
Video

You can now ask Google Maps complex, 'real world' questions

NationalVideoVideoVideoVideoVideoNewsNationalNewsNationalNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalNewsNationalVideowticthesky973kcbsradiowwltalk980amkdawnwccoradiokmoxVideokmbzNewswwjnewsradio1210wphtVideowbenwbbm780VideokrldVideo971talkknssVideoNewsNewsNewsNationalNewsNationalVideoVideoMost PopularGoogle News FeedNewsVideoVideoVideo