Kamara, slot headline biggest Saints OTA questions

By Ross Jackson

Organized Team Activities (OTAs) kick off Wednesday for the New Orleans Saints. As the team has the chance to take the field with rookies and veterans for the first time, there are several big questions whose answers will begin to take focus. 

Here are some of the biggest questions that will draw attention over the course of OTAs. 

Will Alvin Kamara be Present?

OTAs are voluntary and it’s been a while since running back Alvin Kamara attended and participated in them. But in the midst of the ongoing saga around the running back, it would be quite the showing if he attended and planned to participate. 

Kamara has been consistent that he sees himself as a part of the team, would be excited to share the backfield with newly-signed back Travis Etienne Jr. and has expressed his desire to remain in New Orleans for his career tenure many times. 

The Saints, on the other hand, haven’t been as openly committed, often citing a need to evaluate his spot on the roster and the resource management that follows. 

Should Kamara attend, which isn’t likely, it would put another layer of pressure on the situation, but one that could quickly drive toward progress being made. 

It definitely says more if he does attend than if he doesn’t. 

Who is in Contention at STAR/Slot?

Battles aren’t decided during OTAs, but these periods will offer a chance to see who is in the early stages of consideration to take on important positions. 

On defense, the departure of former cornerback Alontae Taylor has left a massive hole in the team’s roster at the coveted STAR/slot position. 

These upcoming practices will allow for a glimpse into those that are being considered to step into the role. Cornerbacks Quincy Riley and Jayden Price along with safeties Jonas Sanker and Julian Blackmon should all garner consideration, as will undrafted free agents Jeremiah McClendon and DaShawn Jones. However, how many players in total will get a run at the role remains to be seen. 

Some light will finally be shed on the early goings of that battle in the coming weeks, as soon as the team starts to incorporate nickel looks, which may not take long. 

Which New Leaders Will Step Up?

Leadership is going to come from the places that are most expected without much surprise. Veterans on defense like Justin Reid and Kaden Elliss are going to be trusted to bring their leadership skills while center Erik McCoy and quarterback Tyler Shough pioneer the offense. 

But more leaders will start to take shape over OTAs and training camp. It will be interesting to see which players ride to the occasion. 

Taylor was a perfect example last year, working with younger players and being vocal on the field. His growing presence as a leader began to become apparent during the third phase of the offseason. Seeing who steps up this year is sure to catch eyes and ears. 

Who is the Backup Center?

Behind McCoy, the departure of center Luke Fortner leaves an important space on the roster open. Who backs up McCoy will be a crucial positional update to follow heading into 2026. 

As of now, some expect second-year lineman Torricelli Simpkins III to be the frontrunner. He filled in admirably at the position last preseason, but struggled a bit at guard during the regular season. 

With the mid-round draft selection of Auburn guard Jeremiah Wright, the door may be open for Simpkins to return to the center role to battle as the key backup to McCoy. 

How Much Will Rookies Jordyn Tyson and Christen Miller Participate?

The answer for both players should probably be, “not much at all,” but it will be interesting to see how the Saints handle the health situations around both rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and rookie defensive tackle Christen Miller. 

Tyson is managing a hamstring injury that he played through at Arizona State but that sidelined him for much of the pre-draft process. Meanwhile, Miller is dealing with an undisclosed pre-draft injury that presumably took place after his season concluded. 

With both players, it makes perfect sense to be as cautious as possible. Having each ready for Week 1 is far more important than participating in all of OTAs. The two are likely to be limited throughout the process with days on and off.