The New Orleans Saints have one more preseason game looming before a rapidly approaching cutdown day. So where will we find the most difficult decisions in trimming the roster down to 53?
A host of injuries makes the conversation a lot simpler at multiple positions, including RB and WR. Kellen Moore already said that we should not expect starters on Friday against the Cowboys, which means fringe roster players get one last shot to make an impression.
- Should the Saints keep five or six wide receivers ... and who would those players be?
- How many tight ends?
- How many running backs?
- Is the QB2 competition actually close?
We'll wade into all that and more in our final 53-man roster projection below. The Saints and the NFL's other 31 teams will have to trim down their rosters by 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Brought to you by TRANESOUTH: It's hard to stop a Tranewww.audacy.com* = rookie; ** = UDFA ... previous projection
QUARTERBACK (2)
ON THE 53
- Tyler Shough
- Spencer Rattler
ON THE CUT LINE
Zach Wilson
Hunter Dekkers
Notes: I still think it’s possible the performances in the Cowboys game could swing things for the backup slot, but I’m pretty confident this is Spencer Rattler’s job to lose. The pick-six against the Rams was ugly, but he was far and away the more efficient QB in that game and played a lot more like the guy we’ve seen throughout camp. That game felt like Zach Wilson’s chance to take control. Instead he led an offense that managed just four first downs in a half of football. The Saints could always opt to keep three QBs, but I think they’d prefer to get Wilson to the practice squad -- even if it costs a little more normal.
RUNNING BACK (4)
ON THE 53
- Travis Etienne
- Alvin Kamara
- Kendre Miller
- Audric Estime
IR-return: Devin Neal
IR: Ty Chandler
ON THE CUT LINE
Zamir White
**CJ Donaldson
Notes: Alvin Kamara’s injury muddles up the picture here a bit, but I’d still be surprised if he’s available for Week 1. Devin Neal’s hamstring injury seems almost certain to land him on IR to start the year. That might not be a terrible thing for him, to be entirely honest. He clearly wasn’t ready to return last week and he wasn’t going to be guaranteed a roster spot. An extended rehab opportunity is preferable to being cut. He’ll now have as much time as he needs to get right and the Saints retain the flexibility to bring him back if and when they have a need for him. Kendre Miller went from a question mark to a sure thing on the roster, in my opinion, and the only question is whether the Saints still opt to keep four players. Hopefully this is the final year Kendre plays healthy. If not, that's where Devin could enter the picture.
When I look at Audric Estime, I see a player who has done enough to make the roster, particularly if there’s some question about Kamara’s availability. Zamir White is a wild card, but I think his job is moreso to make a good impression on coaches and hopefully stick on the practice squad.
TIGHT END (4)
ON THE 53
- Juwan Johnson
- Noah Fant
- *Oscar Delp
IR: Moliki Matavao
ON THE CUT LINE
Treyton Welch
Zaire Mitchell-Paden
**Cody Hardy
Notes: The injury to Moliki Matavao is one of the biggest bummers of the preseason. He’d been developing nicely and I thought he'd earned a roster spot. Instead he’s done for the year with a knee injury. I don’t really see the need to keep a fourth TE, but if they did it would probably be Zaire Mitchell-Paden. Oscar Delp is assuredly on the roster, but he also hasn’t done a ton to stand out in this camp. Perhaps that forces the Saints’ hand here. I’m using that roster spot elsewhere.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
ON THE 53
- Chris Olave
- Devaughn Vele
- *Bryce Lance
- *Barion Brown
- Bub Means
- Kevin Austin Jr.
IR-return: Jordyn Tyson
PUP: Mason Tipton
ON THE CUT LINE
Trey Palmer
Ronnie Bell
**Brock Rechsteiner
Jalen Moreno-Cropper
RETIRED: Ja’Lynn Polk
Notes: Jordyn Tyson’s injury is a bummer, but it does create opportunity here for guys down the roster. You honestly could probably get away with keeping five WRs, in which case it’d be a decision between Bub Means and Kevin Austin Jr. The top four are locked in concrete. In this case I’m keeping both Means and Austin because I want big-bodied guys who can block and play special teams. That’s what they are, with some upside.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
ON THE 53
- LT: Kelvin Banks
- LG: David Edwards
- C: Erik McCoy
- RG: Cesar Ruiz
- RT: Taliese Fuaga
- Asim Richards
- Easton Kilty
- *Jeremiah Wright
- Will Sherman
ON THE CUT LINE
**Alex Wollschlaeger
**Alan Herron
Barry Wesley
Xavier Truss
Torricelli Simpkins III
Notes: It’s hard to imagine the Saints don’t swing a trade (or two) to bolster the depth at this position, so this projection ends up being a bit of a placeholder. The final guy above the cut line had been Barry Wesley, but he’s had a very poorly timed injury and I value availability. I was between Xavier Truss and Easton Kilty, but went with the latter because of his positional flexibility. If the Saints swing a trade, he’s the cut. I also swapped out Will Sherman for Torricelli Simpkins, who is currently dealing with a concussion. Sherman pulled the start against the Rams and can play all five line spots. He just makes the most sense. I expect Simpkins back on the practice squad.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE (9)
ON THE 53
- DT Nathan Shepherd
- DT Davon Godchaux
- DT *Christen Miller
- DT Vernon Broughton
- DE Chase Young
- DE Carl Granderson
- DE Cam Jordan
- DE Tyree Wilson
- DE Anfernee Jennings
ON THE CUT LINE
Khristian Boyd
Fadil Diggs
Myles Cole
John Ridgeway
**Michael Heldman
**Jay’Viar Suggs
**Kahlil Saunders
**Brien Taylor
**Malakai Williams
Notes: I was wondering about Anfernee Jennings early in camp, but the Saints told us all we need to know by giving him starter treatment/rest in the preseason. You could convince me that I should be keeping another interior defensive lineman, but I feel comfortable being able to get John Ridgeway and Khristian Boyd to the practice squad. Vernon Broughton is the clear starter and he'll have a lot of pressure to deliver early in the season. Cam Jordan’s status for Week 1 is still a question, which makes me more comfortable keeping Tyree Wilson than anyone else.
LINEBACKER (5)
ON THE 53
- Pete Werner
- Kaden Elliss
- Danny Stutsman
- Isaiah Stalbird
- Jaylan Ford
ON THE CUT LINE
Jackson Sirmon
Chris Rumph
Notes: The easiest position to project. This group is strong 1-5 and might be the best on the team from top to bottom. The only question I have is with Chris Rumph, who I’m sure Brandon Staley would like to keep around if he can. If the Saints didn’t already have two obvious IR-return candidates, he’d be my pick there. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the Saints held him on the roster through cuts so they could stash him on IR the old fashioned way.
DEFENSIVE BACK (11)
ON THE 53
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
- CB Quincy Riley
- CB Isaac Yiadom
- CB Martin Emerson Jr.
- CB Jayden Price
- CB *TJ Hall Jr.
- S Jonas Sanker
- S Justin Reid
- S Julian Blackmon
- S *Lorenzo Styles Jr.
- S Jordan Howden
IR: Rejzohn Wright
ON THE CUT LINE
Terrell Burgess
Mike Reid
Elliott Davison
Dalys Beanum
Michael Davis
David Long Jr.
Notes: I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the Saints keep 11 defensive backs, but that’s what I’m doing here. I have the space, so I’m making sure to keep all of my draft picks. The only guy that feels on the fringe is TJ Hall, but he’s moved up to the CB4 line with Quincy Riley missing with a quad issue. Martin Emerson Jr. will draw the start if Riley can’t get back by Week 1. The safety position feels locked in. The only guy who could land on the cut line would be Howden, but he’s comfortable in the scheme and a quality depth option.
SPECIALISTS (3)
ON THE 53
- K Daniel Carlson
- P Ryan Wright
- LS Zach Wood
ON THE CUT LINE
Charlie Smyth
Tanner Brown
Notes: It hardly seems fair to go with Mr. Outside Hire after a drawn-out kicking competition between Tanner Brown and Charlie Smyth, but I just don’t see another route. Carlson still has to go out there and look comfortable and confident in the preseason finale, but if he does, in my opinion, the job is his. Smyth has now missed 11 kicks in camp. That’s just too many. Meanwhile Brown has been more efficient, but he’s missed four kicks inside of 40. The lasting image will be the missed 38-yarder late against the Rams, and he doesn’t have any NFL experience to fall back on. I think he’ll be an NFL kicker somewhere down the line, but it’s hard to imagine it’s in New Orleans this season. I think Smyth sticks around because he gets a free slot on the practice squad.
