Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
As the New Orleans Saints enter their final preseason game, here is our final roster prediction ahead of the roster cuts that will begin flowing in in the coming days.
Quarterbacks (3)
- Spencer Rattler
- Tyler Shough
- Jake Haener
What can change?
Not a lot will change here aside from the official starting being named. Keeping all three quarterbacks is in line with the current NFL trends, especially now that an inactive passer can be an emergency third quarterback. Haener is a very intelligent player that can be an asset for the starting quarterback on the sideline. I don’t see him not being on the roster unless some other team enters the conversation for a trade.
Running Backs (4)
- Alvin Kamara
- Kendre Miller
- Devin Neal
- Velus Jones Jr.
What can change?
Keeping five running backs was a little bit of a challenge with the rest of the roster numbers coming together. With an injury in the Saints’ secondary and on the offensive line, it felt best to prioritize depth at those positions and then send some veterans on a path to the early practice squad. Because Clyde Edwards-Helaire does not have to clear waivers, he’s the simplest option to move to the practice squad temporarily, with the ability to be elevated to the active roster in the first few weeks as health or roster needs shift.
Wide Receivers (5)
- Chris Olave
- Rashid Shaheed
- Brandin Cooks
- Mason Tipton
- Devaughn Vele
What can change?
Wide receiver Dante Pettis is the most likely candidate to either force a sixth wideout on the roster or to snag an unpredictable spot. His return ability in the punt and kick return game are hard to eschew. Vele makes the roster whether he appears in the final preseason game or not because of the trade price the Saints were willing to spend to get him to New Orleans.
Tight Ends (3)
- Juwan Johnson
- Jack Stoll
- Treyton Welch
- Foster Moreau (PUP)
- Taysom Hill (PUP)
What can change?
Moreau and Hill won’t count against the 53, but will still be with the team as they recover from injury. Johnson and Stoll are locks. The biggest change here would be whether or not Michael Jacobson finally shows out in game action. He’s continued to be a star in camp, but hasn’t yet been able to translate that to the field. If Jacobson makes a leap, he and Welch are likely competing for that third spot. Rookie Moliki Matavao could be a solid contributor with some development on the practice squad.
Offensive line (9)
- LT Kevin Banks Jr.
- LG Trevor Penning
- C Erik McCoy
- RG Cesar Ruiz
- RT Taliese Fuaga
- Dillon Radunz
- Landon Young
- Shane Lemieux
- Torricelli Simpkins III
What can change?
Recent trade acquisition Luke and center Fortner could be players to watch that could possibly steal a spot here. While Penning is out, the Saints could maximize their backup roster spots by keeping versatile players. Radunz can play either guard spot, Young can play guard and tackle, meanwhile Lemieux and Simpkins can man the center and guard spots.
Defensive line (10)
- Chase Young
- Carl Granderson
- Cameron Jordan
- Chris Rumph II
- Fadil Diggs
- Davon Godchaux
- Bryan Bresee
- Nathan Shepherd
- Kristian Boyd
- Vernon Broughton
What can change?
Isaiah Foskey has to show some more during the final preseason game to re-earn his spot. Undrafted free agent rookie Jasheen Davis has fallen out of contention following his injury, but will be a great asset and developmental piece on the practice squad if the team can get him there. With former defensive tackle Khalen Saunders traded, the door is wide open for Boyd to be the backup nose tackle.
Linebackers (5)
- Demario Davis
- Pete Werner
- Nephi Sewell
- Jaylan Ford
- Danny Stutsman
What can change?
So much can change here. Linebacker is one of the tougher positions to address. Those left off including D’Marco Jackson and Isaiah Stalbird deserve a spot just as much as the others listed above. This is a toss-up position of a lot of guys that earned an opportunity.
Defensive Backs (11)
- Kool-Aid McKinstry
- Alontae Taylor
- Isaac Yiadom
- Rico Payton
- Quincy Riley
- Justin Reid
- Julian Blackmon
- Jordan Howden
- J..T Gray
- Ugo Amadi
- Jonas Sanker
What can change?
While Taylor manages injury, Amadi could earn a spot on the active roster rather than being a veteran that is sent to the practice squad. However, if New Orleans feels that it needs an extra roster spot elsewhere (such as wide receiver [Pettis] or running back [Edwards-Helaire]) the team could get crafty with Amadi, send him to the practice squad as a vested veteran and elevate him when needed. This will be a position that is likely constantly shifting over the first few weeks.
Specialists (3)
- K Blake Grupe
- P Kai Kroeger
- LS Zach Wood
What can change?
Nothing is changing at kicker or long snapper, save something unforeseen, but the punter battle rages on. Rookies Kroeger and James Burnip have been going back and forth for the past few weeks. However, Kroeger has recently taken the lead in the rotation and has been doing a considerable amount of holding for Grupe. Those adjustments could indicate nothing, but could indicate everything as they did with former punter Matthew Hayball during last year’s competition at the position.
