By Ross Jackson
It may have been a loss, but several players found ways to stand out for the New Orleans Saints in their preseason tilt with the San Francisco 49ers. While much of the focus from Sunday’s game will deservedly go to the starting offense and their 16-play, 95-yard scoring drive, the preseason is just as much about the guys fighting for roster spots.
Here are some players that stood out and brought themselves another important step closer to landing a spot with the Saints in 2024.
CB Rico Payton
After surrendering just one catch in six targets against the Arizona Cardinals last week, the Pittsburgh State alum staked another claim for the Saints’ fifth cornerback spot. Payton came out with six targets and no receptions allowed while knocking away four of those attempts.
Payton did not have the strongest training camp, sometimes being picked on several times in a single practice. However, he has turned those growth opportunities into two very impressive preseason showings.
The Saints have their top four corners without any hesitation. Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry are all set to be at the top of the position’s depth chart. Payton is making a strong push for that final spot as a guy that can provide some valuable depth as well as contribute on special teams.
Much like cornerback Isaac Yiadom last year, Payton could go from role player to key contributor pretty quickly. He has the patience and composure necessary to excel at the position, all of which even brought him praise from a high-profile teammate on social media. And now he is surrounded by the right coaches that may be able to pull his best game out of him.
LB Anfernee Orji
The second-year linebacker has gotten noticeably more comfortable in head coach Dennis Allen’s defensive system. He has taken snaps at each linebacker position, on each edge and even outside in coverage throughout these two preseason games. No matter where he has been lined up, he has taken on his responsibilities with impressive success.
Sunday night he led the Saints’ defense with eight total tackles, seven of them solo. Orji has proven to be instinctive, quick and reliable. That has shown in training camp as well.
The Saints have proven to be quite the developers of linebacker talent all of a sudden. Orji, Khaleke Hudson and Mike Rose have all had solid showings between preseason games and training camp. Veteran linebacker Monte Rice has as well. Those players behind starting backers Demario Davis, Pete Werner and Willie Gay may be battling it out for two or three roster spots. Orji has done enough to solidify his shot at moving up from the practice squad (where he spent 2023) to the roster this year.
RB Jamaal Williams
Williams received a lot of criticism after a down 2023 season, but a lot of his limited effectiveness had more to do with his role than his play. The back spent a lot of his season last year in a blocking role and rushing within a sub-par run game. All of a sudden, he looks like a new back running in the team’s new wide zone scheme.
Many wondered if Williams would still be a good fit in this offense, forgetting his work with the Detroit Lions two years ago. The 2022 NFL rushing touchdown leader is unlikely to re-claim that title in what will be a busy backfield in New Orleans. But perhaps his best showing of potential in the new offense came against the 49ers.
The former Lions running back averaged a whopping 6.4 yards per carry in the second preseason game. He did a great job utilizing his experienced vision to attack holes and fire into the second and third levels of the defense. With a lead blocker like do-it-all weapon Taysom Hill, things got exciting quickly in the Saints backfield.
