The 2025 New Orleans Saints rookie class is officially hitting the field this week in New Orleans, as will a host of tryout players and UDFAs vying to make the roster.
Among the 16 tryout players is an intriguing veteran name in WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, a former Michigan standout who was drafted in the 6th round by the Browns in 2020 and last seeing the field for the Lions in 2023. At 6-2, 204 pounds, he represents the type of bigger-framed receiver that the Saints still seem to be in need of after not addressing the position in the draft.
The Saints also have several non-rookies participating, something we've seen used as a springboard in the past for fringe roster contributors, including RB Jordan Mims last season. That group includes last year's 7th round selection in OT Josiah Ezirim, among four others.
The lone QBs in attendance will be rookie second-round pick Tyler Shough and tryout player Hunter Dekkers, meaning that pair will get a significant workload. Dekkers' story is a fascinating one, once a highly touted prospect and the backup to Brock Purdy at Iowa State, but later becoming embroiled in a gambling scandal that led to a permanent ban from NCAA competition. He played the 2024 season at Iowa Western Community College and is now taking his shot at the pros.
Here's the full roster of 25 players under contract, as well as another 16 tryout players, listed in order by jersey number:
2025 Draft picks
- 6. QB, Tyler Shough (Louisville)
- 29. CB, Quincy Riley (Louisville)
- 30. RB, Devin Neal (Kansas)
- 40. Edge, Fadil Diggs (Syracuse)
- 47. LB, Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma)
- 71. OT, Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)
- 80. TE, Moliki Matavao, TE (UCLA)
- 91. DT, Vernon Broughton III (Texas)
Undrafted free agents
- 34. RB, Marcus Yarns (Delaware)
- 35. S, Elliott Davison (UTSA)
- 37. CB, Dalys Beanum (S. Dakota State)
- 46. P, James Burnip (Alabama)
- 57. LB, Tyreem Powell (Rutgers)
- 59. Edge, Jasheen Davis (Wake Forest)
- 68. G, Torriccelli Simpkins III (S. Carolina)
- 73. OT, Easton Kilty (Kansas State)
- 74. DE, Omari Thomas (Tennessee)
- 84. WR, Moochie Dixon (SMU)
- 89. WR, Chris Tyree (Virginia)
Non-rookie Saints players
- 26. CB, Travion Fluellen
- 28. RB, Xazavian Valladay
- 72. OT, Josiah Ezirim
- 82. TE, Treyton Welch
- 86. TE, Michael Jacobson
Tryout players
- 18. QB, Hunter Dekkers (Iowa Western)
- 19. WR, Donovan Peoples-Jones (last with Lions)
- 25. DB, Cameron Watts (New Mexico)
- 31. DB, Javaughn Byrd (Northern Illinois)
- 36. DB, Travis Martin (Langston)
- 38. DB, Eric Cumberbatch (Ottawa)
- 42. DB, Terrell Burgess (Utah)
- 44. LS, Logan Klusman (Kansas)
- 53. LB, Brendan Bell (Villanova)
- 62. OL, Joey Lombard (South Dakota)
- 81. WR, Leon Johnson III (Oklahoma State)
- 85. WR, Roderick Daniels Jr. (SMU)
- 87. WR, Holden Willis (Middle Tennessee State)
- 88. WR, Chris Carpenter (UTSA)
- 93. DL, Brandon Brown (UTSA)
- 97. DL, Patrick Jenkins (Tulane)
