New Orleans Saints/Michael C. Hebert
By Ross Jackson
Every offseason, there are underdog players that find their way onto NFL rosters. Looking over the current 89-man group of New Orleans Saints players, there are some that meet the underdog criteria, looking to be the next surprise competitors to land a role in the Big Easy.
Sometimes those roles are as consistent contributors. Sometimes they are depth or practice squad players, but in every case, these are major opportunities for those that earn them.
We’ll start the series with a young and enthusiastic underdog at cornerback whose attitude of positivity and infectious personality are hard to miss.
Cornerback Tra Fluellen
After entering the NFL from Middle Tennessee State, Fluellen signed with the Saints as a member of the team’s 2024 practice squad in December. The 6-foot-2, 210 pound cornerback was then brought back on a reserve/future deal for 2025 and is now looking for a chance to either stick again on the practice squad or potentially land on the 53-man roster.
The Uphill Battle
Fluellen is a part of a crowded room that is topped by incumbent cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alontae Taylor, and Rico Payton. The Saints also brought back 2023 standout Isaac Yiadom and drafted Louisville corner Quincy Riley.
Along with that group, Fluellen will also compete with undrafted free agent rookie Dalys Beanum and returning corner Rejzohn Wright.
The Saints have also been connected to veteran cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. with a previous visit. The pathway for Fluellen has some obstacles, but that doesn’t seem to deter or intimidate him one bit.
Standout Moments So Far
Fluellen has had a couple standout moments throughout practices with media in attendance. During the third open OTAs practice, he had his best.
As quarterback Spencer Rattler delivered a pass to the endzone in 7-on-7 red zone drills, Fluellen dove to break it up, drawing celebrations from his fellow defenders on the field and those in the sideline. He immediately popped up from the ground to deliver the growing-in-popularity two thumbs down celebration mostly attributed to Taylor, who joined him in celebrating the moment.
The two, Fluellen and Taylor, have known each other for some time thanks to their Tennessee collegiate experience. Taylor’s high school town of Manchester, Tenn. is just over 30 miles south of Middle Tennessee State, located in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Fluellen also stands out because of his personality. He has a bright and positive disposition that’s hard to miss in the locker room. The fanbase got its first glimpse at that personality when he joined the post-practice interview of veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan to lead off the line of questioning.
Fluellen’s Resume
During his three seasons as a safety at Middle Tennessee State, Fluellen reeled in five interceptions, along with 11 passes defended. Most impressively he piled on 197 tackles, as well.
He proved to be an active and willing tackler with some good ball-tracking abilities downfield.
C O N S I S T E N C Y🖤 pic.twitter.com/MlH8tjSRNC
— Tra fluellen (@tra_fluellen) December 28, 2023
He finished his collegiate career with two Honorable Mention All-Conference USA honor nods and was a permanent team captain in 2023. This was after landing on numerous award watchlists to begin the 2023 season.
A former Houston Christian defensive coordinator, Jeff Mills, once gave a glowing review of Fluellen as he was entering the 2024 NFL draft following a late-season ACL injury in 2023.
“He is rare,” Mills said via HERO Sports. “He’s a unicorn. He stands out in this competitive world of college football in that he is not just about football, he’s about everything that makes it fun to be a coach.”
Fluellen documented his ACL recovery via social media leading up to eventually landing with the Saints.
Why Fluellen Has A Shot
Something you can’t teach in football is attitude and Fluellen looks to have it right all on his own. From the praise of former coaches to his own candor, the young cornerback shows a lot of the characteristics that the Saints love: grit, determination, and an ability to manage adversity.
Whether he lands on the practice squad, the active roster, or somewhere else entirely, (before entering the league officially, he was drafted to the UFL in the league’s college draft) Fluellen is a player worth watching this offseason.
