The New Orleans Saints have the entirety of their offseason workout programs in the books, but has that changed anyone's standing for the 53-man roster coming out of training camp?
The Saints will have some tough decisions to make at several positions, most notably wide receiver, running back and along the defensive line. So who lands where? Scroll below as we go position by position for an updated 53-man roster projection ahead of the full camp, which kicks off in late July.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK (2)
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - MAY 28: Tyler Shough #6 of the New Orleans Saintsduring a OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images
ON THE 53
- Tyler Shough
- Spencer Rattler
ON THE CUT LINE
- Zach Wilson
- Hunter Dekkers
Notes: There's a new name on her with the return of Hunter Dekkers, but nothing really changes. To this point it's been Tyler Shough entrenched as the starter and Spencer Rattler as No. 2 and nothing I've seen to this point has made me think any changes are worth considering. There's still a long way to go, but this is shaping up like a two-QB room.
RUNNING BACK (4)
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - JUNE 17: Travis Etienne Jr. #3 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images
ON THE 53
- Travis Etienne
- Alvin Kamara
- Devin Neal
- Audric Estime
- Kendre Miller
- Ty Chandler
- **CJ Donaldson
Notes: This is still a tough position to project. I don't think all is settled on the Alvin Kamara front, but until something changes he's sticking on my projection. The real question is: If he's not on the roster, do you add another RB in his place, or roll with three? For now I have Audric Estime ahead of Kendre Miller, but that's simply because of availability. Kendre will have to get back healthy and show he's got juice, and if he does the conversation gets more interesting.
TIGHT END (3)
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - MAY 28: Juwan Johnson #83 of the New Orleans Saints attends the OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images
ON THE 53
- Juwan Johnson
- Noah Fant
- *Oscar Delp
ON THE CUT LINE
- Treyton Welch
- Moliki Matavao
- Zaire Mitchell-Paden
- **Cody Hardy
Notes: I was eager to get ahead of things and add a fourth TE, but for now I'll stick with the extra body at RB. I think Moliki Matavao is closer to the roster than most people will give him credit for, but something might have to change at another position (hint: like RB) for this to become a real conversation. The good news is that the top three at the position feel set and for good reason.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - JUNE 17: Chris Olave #12 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images
ON THE 53
- Chris Olave
- *Jordyn Tyson
- Devaughn Vele
- *Bryce Lance
- Ja’Lynn Polk
- *Barion Brown
ON THE CUT LINE
- Trey Palmer
- Ronnie Bell
- Kevin Austin Jr.
- Mason Tipton
- Bub Means
- Brock Rechsteiner
- Jalen Moreno-Cropper
Notes: There are so many names in this position group that it's very tempting to keep a seventh player, but I just don't see that as a functional option. If you're keeping seven WRs, at least two would have to be special teams standouts -- and that's just a lot more likely to be found at a different position. Barion Brown is the return ace, and you only *really* need one of those. The list of keeps remains unchanged, but Trey Palmer and Ronnie Bell had strong performances in OTAs and could end up pushing Ja'Lynn Polk for that spot.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10)
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - MAY 28: David Edwards #76 of the New Orleans Saints attends the OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images
ON THE 53
- LT: Kelvin Banks
- LG: David Edwards
- C: Erik McCoy
- RG: Cesar Ruiz
- RT: Taliese Fuaga
- Asim Richards
- Dillon Radunz
- Barry Wesley
- *Jeremiah Wright
- Torricelli Simpkins III
ON THE CUT LINE
- Nick Saldiveri
- **Alex Wollschlaeger
- **Alan Herron
- Easton Kilty
- Xavier Truss
- William Sherman
Notes: Just one change here, and that's to toss Barry Wesley onto the keep line, bumping UDFA Alan Herron down the list. That's not a negative on Herron, who is in the process of developing at the NFL level, as much as it is reacting to the current depth chart. Wesley has been getting the second team reps across from Asim Richards. You could convince me that the Saints only need nine active offensive linemen and a guy like Wesley could be kept on the practice squad, but for now I'm sticking with a backup at every position.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE (10)
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - JUNE 17: Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images
ON THE 53
- Bryan Bresee
- Nathan Shepherd
- Davon Godchaux
- *Christen Miller
- Vernon Broughton
- Chase Young
- Carl Granderson
- Cam Jordan
- Tyree Wilson
- Chris Rumph
ON THE CUT LINE
- John Ridgeway
- Anfernee Jennings
- Khristian Boyd
- Fadil Diggs
- Myles Cole
- **Michael Heldman
- **KeeShawn Silver
- **Jay’Viar Suggs
Notes: The only change here from my initial projection was to add Cam Jordan (duh), which bumped Anfernee Jennings onto the cut line. There could be some shuffling at this position, but for now I'm sticking with Chris Rumph, a player that the coaching staff really likes and does everything you want a depth player to do. Neither Jennings or Tyree Wilson has really shown much (or gotten many opportunities to show much), but the investment in Wilson is more significant, so I'm sticking with him for now. The DT depth chart feels pretty strong, though there might be a conversation between Nathan Shepherd and John Ridgeway if the Saints' goal is to get younger. Shepherd missed all of OTAs and was held out of team drills in minicamp, but I learned last year not to bet against him.
LINEBACKER (5)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 01: Kaden Elliss #55 of the New Orleans Saints smiles against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field on January 01, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
ON THE 53
- Pete Werner
- Kaden Elliss
- Danny Stutsman
- Isaiah Stalbird
- Jaylan Ford
- Jackson Sirmon
Notes: Nothing major to note for this position other than ... there's a cut to make now! The last time we did this the Saints only had five linebackers on the roster, and now they have six. Jackson Sirmon is a player the Saints signed after a workout -- and is also the son of LBs coach Peter Sirmon -- but I don't expect him to push anybody else off the depth chart.
DEFENSIVE BACK (10)
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - JUNE 17: Kool-Aid McKinstry #1 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images
ON THE 53
- Kool-Aid McKinstry
- Quincy Riley
- Isaac Yiadom
- Martin Emerson Jr.
- *TJ Hall Jr.
- Jonas Sanker
- Justin Reid
- Julian Blackmon
- *Lorenzo Styles Jr.
- Jordan Howden
ON THE CUT LINE
- Jayden Price
- Terrell Burgess
- Beanie Bishop
- Elliott Davison
- Rejzohn Wright
- Dalys Beanum
Notes: No change here from my preseason projection, but I was close in a couple spots. I think 10 is the right number and I'm pretty firm on eight of those names. The two that could potentially flip: TJ Hall and Jordan Howden. Hall is a 7th rounder and won't be guaranteed anything. He'll have to excel somewhere to hold on to that spot, but as a draft pick I do think he'll get the first chance to do that. Meanwhile Howden's presence feels a bit redundant if he's not going to be playing the nickel position. To this point it's been Jayden Price and Beanie Bishop taking on second and third-team nickel reps. Perhaps that changes in training camp. I'll stick with the veteran name for now, but ultimately I want my depth players to have the most versatility possible. I also think Isaac Yiadom and Martin Emerson Jr. are pretty entrenched as backups at outside corner.
SPECIALISTS (3)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 21: Kai Kroeger #32 and Charlie Smyth #39 of the New Orleans Saints celebrate after Smyth's field goal against the New York Jets in the first quarter of a game at Caesars Superdome on December 21, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
ON THE 53
- K Charlie Smyth
- P Ryan Wright
- LS Zach Wood
ON THE CUT LINE
- Tanner Brown
Notes: I haven't seen Tanner Brown kick one time in a Saints jersey, so putting him on the roster wouldn't make much sense. Regardless, his inclusion makes me see this as more of a true kicker competition than I did with the since-cut Mason Shipley. For one thing the UFL numbers speak for themselves. The guy went 13-15 (86.7%) from 50-plus last season, including three makes from 60-plus. If the Saints were interested in just a camp leg, they'd have probably stuck with Shipley. This is a guy you bring in to push your incumbent player, and it's not the first time they've done that. The Saints didn't just hand Smyth the job last year after cutting Blake Grupe. They went out and signed Cade York and had a competition. Smyth won that and it was his job the rest of the season. He got off to a bit of a rocky start at minicamp, but he'll have his work cut out for him. As far as punter, the Saints didn't even bother to bring in a camp leg. They've got a lot invested in Ryan Wright. He's the guy.
