The New Orleans Saints are about to embark on one of their more exciting offseasons in quite a while, and a key part of that excitement is the entrenched and improving names at several key positions.
That's where we're talking more about development than competition at quarterback with Tyler Shough, or at either tackle position with Kelvin Banks and Taliese Fuaga. There's a balance teams always want to strike between keeping things competitive and having the type of unquestioned talent that prevents the need to guess about the depth chart well into camp.
But even with that, there are still a host of positions that appear -- at least to some extent -- up for grabs as the first of three OTA sessions kicks off in Metairie next week.
The rubber won't really meet the road until the full training camp kicks off in late July. Scroll below to see our breakdown of what we see as the top position battles. For the record: I'm only listing the names that I believe are in serious contention to win a roster spot. Position battles in italics.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
- Starter: Tyler Shough
- QB2: Spencer Rattler vs Zach Wilson
Notes: Tyler Shough is rolling into the offseason as the unquestioned starter, no real need to dig further into that. But who will be backing him up? Spencer Rattler has the obvious head start with a year in Kellen Moore's system, and with two years left on his rookie contract there's no reason for the Saints to be looking to supplant him. All things being equal this might not be a true competition, so much as it's important for Wilson to look capable enough that the Saints at least consider testing the trade market. Rattler's time in the starting role didn't have a positive outcome (1-13 record), but that experience alone can mean a lot in the NFL. Look at a player like Jacoby Brissett and his 20-45 career record. He doesn't keep getting jobs because of the results, but because that experience is incredibly difficult to find. If a team finds itself in dire need of a QB due to injury, Rattler could become a prime option. So, again, this is more about Wilson showing well enough that should that happen, the Saints feel like they still have a viable backup.
RUNNING BACK
- Starter: Travis Etienne
- RB2: Alvin Kamara*
- RB3: Devin Neal vs Audric Estime vs Kendre Miller vs Ty Chandler (keep 1 or 2*)
- Notes: There's an asterisk next to Alvin Kamara's name because I'm genuinely still unsure if he's going to be in this mix when camp starts. AK has never been a player to show at the voluntary OTAs, so there's no guarantee we get an answer next week. If he is back, things get very competitive down the line. It's possible the Saints keep four running backs, but that's no guarantee. That means Neal, Estime, Miller and Chandler are competing for, effectively, one spot. Should Kamara not be in the mix there's likely two spots available and the bigger competition is for the primary backup role. In the first scenario I think you'd see Etienne and Kamara form more of a tandem. In the second scenario, it'd be more of Etienne as the bellcow and a truer backup role behind him. Neal looked good last year in his limited opportunities and would be my pick, but we'll have to see how it goes.
WIDE RECEIVER
Starters
- WR1: Chris Olave
- WR2: Jordyn Tyson
- WR3/slot: Devaughn Vele
Depth: Bryce Lance vs Ja'Lynn Polk vs Kevin Austin vs Bub Means vs Damien Alford vs Mason Tipton vs Brock Rechsteiner vs Barion Brown (Keep 2 + 1 return specialist)
Notes: There's no question on the top two names. Those are your star WRs for the future and it'll be fascinating to watch how Olave and Tyson work together. I also think Vele is a sure thing. It's easy to forget how elite he looked in that late-year stretch with Tyler Shough, but the coaching staff is well aware. His size and blocking also creates a lot of versatility. Behind him things open up. Lance is likely a guaranteed keeper as a 4th round pick, and Brown feels like a safe bet as a return specialist. If that is the case and assuming the Saints keep six WRs, that would mean one roster spot to win between Polk, Austin, Means, Alford and Tipton. What makes this particularly interesting is that special teams ability has to be a factor as the 5th WR on the depth chart, which is why I think Alford and Rechsteiner have a legit shot due to their size. I trust both those guys to run downfield and make a tackle when needed. You'll understand when you see them out there.
TIGHT END
- TE1: Juwan Johnson
- TE2: Noah Fant
- TE3 (blocking): Oscar Delp
Notes: I listed this a bit differently because it's a bit different than starter and backup. I see all three guys as having distinct roles throughout the course of the season and all three will be on the field at the same time in certain personnel packages. Johnson will still get the most snaps, while I expect Delp to be asked to be more of a true in-line tight end early in his career. Fant will split the difference and also provide elite depth should either of Johnson or Delp miss time due to injury. I don't see any real competition here, barring injury.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Starters
- LT Kelvin Banks
- LG David Edwards
- C Erik McCoy
- RG Cesar Ruiz
- RT Taliese Fuaga
Backups
- G: Jeremiah Wright vs Dillon Radunz vs Torricelli Simpkins (keep 2)
- OT: Asim Richards vs Will Sherman vs Alan Herron (keep 2)
- C: Torricelli Simpkins vs Easton Kilty
Notes: I personally don't see a true competition for any starting role, assuming health. I know there will be consternation over Ruiz at RG, but I see Wright as a developmental player and my primary goal is to build continuity with my starting group. You do that by having all five on the field. If Wright develops well, that RG position battle could definitely happen in 2027. I think one of the key issues for this group the last two years has been continuity. In 2025 the trio of McCoy, Ruiz and Fuaga appeared in just five games, with Ruiz and McCoy leaving hurt in the first half of two of those games. Fuaga and Ruiz appeared together in just 9 of 17 games. The revolving door creates issues and neither player had a good year. Improving the quality of the depth (IE Wright) and keeping those players on the field together will make a difference. So far as the backup battles, I only see center as the legit competition. I also wouldn't be surprised to see another player added to that mix, with Simpkins yet to play center in an NFL game and Kilty just making the transition this offseason.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE END/EDGE
Starters
- Edge1: Chase Young
- Edge2: Carl Granderson
Depth: Tyree Wilson vs Anfernee Jennings vs Chris Rumph vs Fadil Diggs (keep 2)
Notes: This position feels like, which is why I still wouldn't be surprised to see Cam Jordan's name get mixed in there. If it does, things get more complicated, but for now it's really just a question of whether Wilson and Jennings can prove the Saints were right to bring them in. Rumph is a favorite of Staley's and fought his way onto the roster last year, so I wouldn't count him out.
INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE
Starters
- NT: Davon Godchaux vs Christen Miller
- DT1: Bryan Bresee
- DT2: Nathan Shepherd vs Vernon Broughton
Depth: Miller/Godchaux vs Shepherd/Broughton vs Ridgeway vs Khristian Boyd vs Zxavian Harris (keep 2 + starting role winners)
Notes: This is a tough position to project starters just because it looks different based on the personnel deployment. Still, other than Bresee there's a lot to figure out. I'd be surprised to see Miller push Godchaux out of his role, but he'll at least get a shot to show off and I expect he'll get a lot of exposure in the preseason games to make his case. The same will be true for the other DE spot across from Bresee. Shepherd is coming off a strong season, but he's 32 and the Saints will give Broughton an opportunity to play his way into a role. Ridgeway is a bit of a wild card. Either way, this is one of the more interesting positions with two "starting" jobs seemingly up for grabs.
INSIDE LINEBACKER
Starters
- WLB: Pete Werner vs Danny Stutsman
- MLB: Kaden Elliss
Depth: Werner/Stutsman vs Jaylan Ford vs Stalbird (keep 3)
Notes: This position is a bit weird because while I anticipate there'll be something of a competition for a starting role, the numbers would seem to indicate that everyone in this group is making the roster. Stutsman is a player that the Saints will want to see more of. I still expect he'll be behind Werner in the pecking order, but he'll still be the first off the bench if the Saints wall to roll out three-linebacker personnel. Stalbird and Ford will continue to develop, and even though I don't know exactly what to call it, I still expect Stalbird to deployed situationally in the regular defense like he was last year to great effect. All of the non-starters will also be very important on special teams.
CORNERBACK (outside)
- CB1 Kool-Aid McKinstry
- CB2: Quincy Riley vs Martin Emerson Jr.
Depth: Riley/Emerson vs Isaac Yiadom vs Rejzohn Wright vs TJ Hall (keep 3)
Notes: This could theoretically be a battle at both CB spots, but I expect Kool-Aid will enter solidified in his role. Emerson vs Riley is interesting because one is the incumbent, but the other enters with more experience. It could go either way and the job will have to be earned. Regardless I like the depth. Yiadom and Hall would be my other picks to make the roster, but we'll have to see how this all plays out.
SAFETY
- SS: Justin Reid
- FS: Jonas Sanker vs Julian Blackmon
Notes: The Saints don't really split the safeties up into strong and free, but you get the idea. Reid is a team leader and I think he's safe in his role. Sanker vs Blackmon is a bit more interesting. Blackmon won the job out of camp last year, but Sanker took over in Week 2 due to injury and played really well -- though he did seem to hit a bit of a wall toward the end of the year. I'd put my money on Sanker to stick at safety while Blackmon's role changes (more on that below) but we'll have to see. I'm eager to get a look at Styles in the regular defense. He's an elite-elite athlete and his versatility could make a difference down the line, though I think he's got some development ahead before he's considered for a regular role.
NICKEL CORNER/STAR
- Starter: Blackmon vs Sanker vs Styles vs Riley/Emerson
Notes: Alontae Taylor's departure in free agency makes the star role the biggest question of the offseason. Who takes it over, and does Brandon Staley look to a cornerback or a safety. He's done it both ways. It was Taylor's job last year, and with the Rams it was CB Jalen Ramsey handling those duties. With the Chargers it was safety Derwin James. I'd expect he'll err toward safety again, with one of Blackmon or Sanker (whoever doesn't start at safety) being the pick. Styles is a dark horse, but I think he's more of a longterm option or injury replacement. Riley or Emerson (whoever doesn't start at corner) should also be in the mix.
SPECIALISTS
- P: Ryan Wright
- K: Charlie Smyth vs Mason Shipley
- LS: Zach Wood
Notes: There's no actual competition for Wood or Wright in camp, so no question there. As far as Smyth vs Shipley, I see no downside to making this a legit competition, but until Smyth opens the door and Shipley proves it's worth talking about, I'm still looking at Smyth as the starter. He'll have to get off to a faster start in camp than he did last year, but if he can be steady, this won't be much of a conversation.
