It's time for the preseason finale, and that doubles as one last chance to make an impression for some guys on the fringe of the roster.
That said, I don't think all the spots on the roster are created equally. You'll have to cut down to 53 on Aug. 29, and I see several of those cuts as inevitable.
With that in mind, I'm changing this up a bit. Along with my standard keeps and cuts, I'm putting certain names in bold. Those bolded names are players that I still think have a chance to change their fate based on performance. If a player is in the keep section and their name is bolded, I still think there's a chance they miss out for one reason or another. If a name is in the cut list and bolded, well, you get the idea.
Scroll below for that breakdown, which included a big shift at WR that we could probably have all seen coming.
NOTE: * = rookie; ** = UDFA
QUARTERBACK (3)
- Derek Carr
- Jameis Winston
- Jake Haener*
CUT (0)
- NONE
NOTES: No change here, and nothing I’ve seen has given me cause to think it should. Jake Haener has been impressive, but my read all along has been that this will be a redshirt season for him, and not getting a single team rep during joint practices with the Chargers just reinforces that. You’re keeping three QBs, with Winston as the backup and – most likely – Taysom Hill as the third QB on gamedays.
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RUNNING BACK/FULLBACK (4)
- RB Alvin Kamara
- RB Jamaal Williams
- RB Kendre Miller*
- FB Adam Prentice
CUT (4)
- RB Darrel Williams
- RB Ellis Merriweather
- RB Kirk Merritt
- FB Jake Bargas
NOTES: No shade on Kirk or Ellis, but I think it’s a year or practice squad duty for those guys. And as UDFAs, that’s a win. Keep developing and take advantage of an opportunity if it arises. At this point I’m comfortable with Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller serving as the two-back stable along with Adam Prentice at fullback. My only question is whether the Saints agree, or if they would prefer another veteran just in case. If so, I think Darrel Williams has a shot. I look at the decision as similar to 2017 when you erred toward the veteran and Adrian Peterson early in the season. For now I’m keeping this as is.
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WIDE RECEIVER (6)
- Michael Thomas
- Chris Olave
- Rashid Shaheed
- Keith Kirkwood
- A.T. Perry*
- Lynn Bowden Jr.
CUT (4)
- Shaquan Davis**
- Tre’Quan Smith
- Kawaan Baker
- Jontre Kirklin
NOTES: It’s happened, I’ve finally taken Tre’Quan Smith off my roster projection. I always get told he doesn’t produce enough, but that’s never been my issue. I think he’s done plenty in an under-appreciated role. My issue is that he just can’t stay healthy. He had been having one of his best camps, then a groin injury hit and he's been out for nearly three weeks. Rashid Shaheed is in the same boat, but I know you’re not letting him out of the building. I still think there’s a chance for Tre to get back and compete for the spot, but the clock is ticking. I also think Shaq Davis has a longshot chance, but he’ll have to shine big-time in the preseason finale, and even then I’m not sure if he’s got a path to anything but the practice squad. Have I mentioned the UDFA route is tough? One thing I’m confident about is that if you’re cutting bait with Tre, you’re hanging onto Keith Kirkwood. I also think with Shaheed’s injury, you need a reliable backup returner (at least early in the season) and Bowden is that guy (for now). I can also see a scenario where you stick with a DB as return depth and go with five WRs, or use that spot for Shaq.
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TIGHT END (4)
- Juwan Johnson
- Foster Moreau
- Jimmy Graham
- Taysom Hill
CUT (3)
- Lucas Krull
- J.P. Holtz
- Jesse James
NOTES: No disrespect to Lucas Krull, but I think it’s a trip back to the practice squad for Year 2. My only real question here is whether you keep Jimmy Graham and four total TEs. At this point I’m going to say yes.
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OFFENSIVE LINE (8)
- OT Ryan Ramzcyk
- C/G Erik McCoy
- C/G Cesar Ruiz
- G/T James Hurst
- OT Trevor Penning
- G/T Nick Saldiveri*
- OL Andrus Peat
- OT Storm Norton
CUT (8)
- OT Landon Young
- OL Max Garcia
- OL Lewis Kidd
- OL Calvin Throckmorton
- OL Alex Pihlstrom**
- OT Mark Evans**
- G Chuck Filiaga
- OL Tommy Kraemer
NOTES: This one is a bit confusing. I think it’s possible you keep Landon Young on the roster so you can stash him on IR as he recovers from a knee injury. You can’t do that now or he’d be done for the year. Beyond that I think it’s possible for Max Garcia to stick around as the backup center (though I think he’s probably a practice squad guy just like Josh Andrews last year). Lewis Kidd and Calvin Throckmorton both made the team last year, but I have a hard time finding a spot for them.
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DEFENSIVE LINE (9)
- DE Cam Jordan
- DE Payton Turner
- DE Carl Granderson
- DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
- DE Isaiah Foskey*
- DT Malcolm Roach
- DT Khalen Saunders
- DT Nathan Shepherd
- DT Bryan Bresee*
CUT (5)
- DE Niko Lalos
- DE Kyle Phillips
- DE Prince Emili
- DT Jack Heflin
- DT Jerron Cage**
NOTES: This spot feels about as set as it can be, with the exception of Niko Lalos’ otherworldly Week 2 making me want to find a way to keep him around. The numbers might make that impossible (hard to keep three QBs, four TEs and a fullback and also find a spot for an extra DT). Still, he was that good that I’m going to try.
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LINEBACKERS (6)
- Demario Davis
- Pete Werner
- Zack Baun
- D’Marco Jackson
- Nephi Sewell
- Jaylon Smith
CUT (4)
- Anfernee Orji**
- Ryan Connelly
- Ty Summers
- Nick Anderson**
NOTES: I’m still an Anfernee Orji fan, but right now I’m bumping him for Jaylon Smith. That said, for Smith to make the roster he’s going to have to show he’s got it on special teams. I know Orji can do that, so in the end that might win out. I know it annoys fans at times, but veterans aren’t going to make the roster as backups just because they’re veterans. They HAVE TO contribute on teams. If Smith can do that, I have zero issue keeping him around. Connelly is also interesting, because you might want to stash him on IR just like Landon Young above. He’s also dealing with a knee injury and expected to miss a good amount of time. I think Nephi Sewell is the best cover linebacker of the group behind Werner, and that’s what makes the cut for him. I know folks will be bummed that I can’t find a spot for Nick Anderson, but he was the lone active player not to log a snap on defense in a game with dozens of players inactive. That’s not a good sign for him.
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DEFENSIVE BACK (10)
- CB Marshon Lattimore
- CB Paulson Adebo
- CB Alontae Taylor
- CB Bradley Roby
- DB Ugo Amadi
- DB Lonnie Johnson Jr.
- S Jordan Howden
- S Tyrann Mathieu
- S Marcus Maye
- S J.T. Gray
CUT (8)
- CB Isaac Yiadom
- CB Anthony Johnson Jr.**
- S Smoke Monday
- S Johnathan Abram
- DB Troy Pride Jr.
- DB Adrian Frye
NOTES: This is a tough year to be a depth defensive back on the Saints’ roster. I really like Isaac Yiadom and Anthony Johnshon, but I’m not sure you can finagle a spot for them. Both have played well enough to make the team. The only way I can find a spot for Smoke Monday is by cutting Jordan Howden, and I ain’t doing that. Ugo Amadi and Lonnie Johnson Jr. have been on my projection from the beginning and both have only impressed me throughout camp. They’re making this team.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
- K Wil Lutz
- P Blake Gillikin
- LS Zach Wood
CUT (2)
- K Blake Grupe**
- P Lou Hedley**
NOTES: I like both Lou Hedley and Blake Grupe, but I don’t think the rookies win the kicking competition unless the veterans fall on their face, and neither have done that. The interesting thing to me is Peter King’s report that Sean Payton and the Broncos might be interested in trading for Blake Grupe. That’s odd to me, because if I’m Sean, the guy I’m coming after is Wil Lutz, someone I know and trust implicitly. So the question I have is: Do you like Grupe enough that you’d keep him while shipping out Lutz for a draft pick? I might.
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PRACTICE SQUAD
- S Isaac Yiadom
- LB Anfernee Orji
- S Johnathan Abram
- S Smoke Monday
- DB Anthony Johnson**
- DB Troy Pride Jr.
- LB Nick Anderson**
- DT Niko Lalos
- OL Calvin Throckmorton
- OL Landon Young
- OL Max Garcia
- TE Lucas Krull
- WR Kirk Merritt
- WR Jontre Kirklin
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PREVIOUS CUTS
- RB SaRodorick Thompson Jr. **
- WR Malik Flowers**
- OL Yasir Durant
- OL Scott Lashley
- WR James Washington
- WR Keke Coutee
- WR Bryan Edwards
- G Koda Martin
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TO IR
- G Trai Turner
- LB Andrew Dowell
- RB Eno Benjamin