The New Orleans Saints initial 53-man roster is in the books, but don't get too comfortable with those depth charts. Expect changes over the next 48 hours.
Players without four years of accrued experience will be subject to waivers and there are multiple positions we could see the Saints target for additions. Every successful claim would mean a cut for someone who survived Sunday's culling. After those claims clear, teams can start to build out their 16-man practice squads (or 17-man with an IPP player).
With all that in mind, scroll below for my top five takeaways from the 53-man roster as it was announced on Sunday. Click here for a full listing of the roster and breakdown for each cut/move.
Brought to you by TRANESOUTH: It's hard to stop a Tranewww.audacy.com1. IR LIST PILED UP QUICKLY
The Saints didn't have to make as many "cuts" as I expected due to one unfortunate reason: Injuries.
One of the players who filled the two pre-cut IR-return slots was expected with Jordyn Tyson. His hamstring injury was already expected to keep him out for the first month of the season. So we'll start talking about his potential in Week 5. The second was a bit of a surprise in Jaylan Ford, who left the preseason finale with a foot injury. He was probably fifth in terms of snaps on the depth chart, but his presence will be missed on special teams.
Then there was the season-ending IR list, which as of this week includes:
- CB Dalys Beanum
- DE Mike Heldman
- CB David Long Jr.
- RB Devin Neal
- OT Barry Wesley
Heldman and Long picked up their injuries in the finale against the Cowboys. The others got hurt the week prior. They'll join a growing list that already included:
- DT Bryan Bresee
- OL Dillon Radunz
- RB Ty Chandler
- CB Rejzohn Wright
- TE Moliki Matavao
Only a few of those injuries will be expected to have a major impact on the top-line roster, but it is a good indicator of how brutal this year's camp has been from an injury perspective, and I don't think we're done quite yet. There are a few players who made the roster with injuries that seem longer-term. I'd keep an eye on LB Chris Rumph, DT John Ridgeway and DB Lorenzo Styles Jr. as potential IR candidates now that we're past cuts and they can be designated to return.
2. THREE QB
One of the bigger points of conversation throughout camp was whether the Saints should keep Spencer Rattler or Zach Wilson as QB2. The implication was always: One guy wins the job and the other gets cut. That's not what happened.
Both guys played well in the season finale against the Cowboys. Rattler started and I'd say he had the edge overall. But the Saints opted to keep both players in the room behind Tyler Shough. It was a decision that probably made for a difficult cut down the roster, but I can't say I disagree with it. You now have two potential fill-in players if it went that route, and two young players who could be potential trade chips down the line. It also allows the team to utilize the emergency third QB option on gamedays, which is effectively a 49th player.
I still think Rattler is the QB2, but Wilson's retention adds a bit of pressure. Hopefully we never have to find out whether that was the right choice.
3. BIGGEST SURPRISE
I don't think there were necessary a ton of "wow" decisions in setting this roster, but cutting Isaac Yiadom definitely wasn't on my projection. I'd been critical of performance, but the Saints had been consistently deploying him with the 2s and I just didn't see a better option. I still don't, which makes me feel like there's a move incoming at some point in the near future.
The Saints also cut TJ Hall Jr., who I'd probably have inked in as the next guy up. The Saints did make the decision to retain Mike Reid, though he's more of a special teams option. He's listed as a cornerback, but he's been deployed more as a safety. If the Saints do opt to stick with the current layout in the CB room, perhaps Jayden Price gets more run outside. He was focused more on the slot position in camp.
The rose-colored glasses way to interpret the Yiadom cut would be that it's hopefully a sign that Quincy Riley's rehab from his groin injury is going positively. If he's out there in Week 1 and Martin Emerson Jr. is the fill-in option, things feel manageable. If Riley misses time and Emerson has to start, I'm honestly not sure who'd be the first guy off the bench if he or Kool-Aid went down with an injury, and that's not what you want coming out of camp.
If nothing else the decision tells you that the Saints saw what everyone else did. Ike was struggling and it was time for the Saints to head in a different direction.
4. TILTED NUMBERS
Typically you'll see a reasonable numbers balance in the trenches. I typically aim for 9 on each side of the ball. Well, this year the Saints opted to keep just eight offensive linemen and ELEVEN defensive linemen. That number is even more remarkable when you consider it doesn't include Bryan Bresee (IR) or Chris Rumph, who made the roster but is now listed with the linebackers.
That tells me a few things. One, expect to see a player or two land on IR. And two ... I don't think the Saints are done building out the OL position. It might not be as extreme as last year when they added three players (two by trade, Luke Fortner and Asim Richards) and another on waivers (Xavier Truss), but as of now the backup line of Asim Richards, Will Sherman and Jeremiah Wright feels too thin for my liking.
5. DEEP RB ROOM
Devin Neal came down with another hamstring injury and his season is over. It was a bit surprising, because I feel like there should've been at least some potential timeline to return, but it's probably more telling about the depth of this group than anything else.
The Saints are four-deep with players that should inspire some level of confidence, and that's a rare thing to say. Travis Etienne is the clear lead back, and Alvin Kamara is the ideal changeup, though his status is a bit unclear due to a knee injury. If he's not ready for the start of the season, Kendre Miller definitely is. It's a contract year for the former third round pick, and after navigating a back issue midway through camp he looked as effective as ever against the Rams and Cowboys. Having that level of talent third on the depth chart is a massive luxury, and there's a built in parachute if the injury woes return.
That parachute could either be in the form of Kamara or Audric Estime, who fought his way onto the roster with yet another impressive performance in the finale against the Cowboys. He's just a solid player with the potential to be a short-yardage bull and who always seems to flash more explosiveness and skill than I expect him to. We already saw him do it last year, and I think if you end up needing to rely on him again, you'll feel good about it. It's a nice scenario, considering where the Saints have ended up due to injuries the past several seasons.
I expect the Saints will also try to get Zamir White to the practice squad. If he opts to go elsewhere, CJ Donaldson is a guy that would make sense. Waiver claims officially process Monday afternoon, after which teams can set their 16-man practice squads.
