Our early 53-man Saints roster projection

The New Orleans Saints are done with minicamp and their offseason program, so with five weeks still to go before training camp, we take an early look at the team’s final 53-man roster for opening day in September.
Lots could change in camp, between player performances and injuries, but for now, we’ll discuss:
• The backup running back spots
• Who will fill out the receiving corps?
• Will the Saints carry eight or nine offensive linemen?
• Who’s the odd man out at defensive tackle?
• How is the secondary organized?
• Could either the incumbent kicker or punter be in danger?

#saints #neworleanssaints #whodat #whodatnation #

[Music] hello again everybody and welcome to the Saints Insider podcast Wednesday June the 18th Kind of the last show before we all start leaving town Jeff Duncan already left town He he beat us out the He did he did make it back by the way Did not get stuck in a S Sicilian volcano Good for him Um at least that’s what I I haven’t seen him with my own eyes but that’s what I heard as he made it back He’s at the States Hall of Fame so I think he’s here Yeah he’s here We hope he’s here Um but the rest of us are all heading out of town over the next couple of weeks but we will have shows for you every week Before we leave we wanted to do a 53man roster projection So that’s what we’re going to do today End of the off season kind of the break between the offseason and training camp A as we mentioned last week the Saints could still make more moves I mean there’s still some some money they could spend Um but for the most part we know what they’re going to have Matt and you put together a 53man roster projection that you can find at nola.com/saints That’s what we’re going to be working off of but um kind of the rest of us may ask you questions or disagree with you at points Call me an idiot Yeah that’s fine I will Let’s go Uh it was a there are a couple positions that I had a real tough time with but right now I felt pretty good about it I think training camp will provide a lot of clarity obviously of how these competitions were going But as I was going through this there were a couple of guys that I thought were maybe in more danger but then when I took a step back to think about it there hadn’t been like a clear cut off line yet So I think the bubble guys are really interesting but I tended to be a little bit more conservative with who I left on the roster right now but I’m pretty open to changing my mind in training camp if things don’t go right Yeah I mean things are going to change for sure Nobody saw Mason Tipton making the roster last year this time So yeah And there’s there’s guys out there like that who who I mean I don’t it’s going to the other thing it’ll be interesting and I think the overarching thought here Rod is like this roster is so unsettled compared to previous years I mean there’s still 30 guys we know are going to make it but like there the bubble is a lot bigger Yeah I think it’s it’s probably bigger but I think when I went through the exercise and did it like I didn’t it was probably like three or four guys I think it came down to at the end I thought I it seemed pretty solid to me for me But um yeah I don’t know how you You may have more confidence in some guys than I do Yeah I think that might be the case I think one of the the really fascinating things about this is that it’s a new regime Not too tied They’re not tied to guys who have been high draft picks who haven’t panned out so far right um or or relatively high draft picks Like for instance uh like I’m I’m not saying this is going to happen but like there’s nothing tying this organization to Jay Kainer anymore right right Last year it was it was like a virtual impossibility that he was going to be cut even after they drafted Spencer Rattler Like if he goes out there and doesn’t perform in training camp or if they really like Hunter Deckers you you know would it be a a massive surprise if they don’t keep Jay Kainer no Would it be a surprise if they don’t keep Isaiah Fosski no Kendra Miller No Jordan Howden Jordan Hen Even though even though Jordan Howd’s been taking some reps of the ones like I like I don’t think you can be like “Yeah he’s definitely gonna be on this roster.” Kendra Miller did you say yeah You know it’s just And Hton was a what a fifth round draft pick Like there’s it’s not quite the same degree with him But um but you know I just think that there’s there’s less security for some of those guys who were not drafted under this coaching staff than there there was in previous regime Yeah No I mean there’s there’s no doubt there’s there’s going to be we always talk about who the surprise cuts will be There will be some that seem like surprises just because of where they were drafted but that was then this is now The same thing goes for veteran players I think guys who were signed under the previous regime or to fit a previous system Like I I think it’s a good thing that Cedric Wilson has played with Kell Moore before you know but like he was signed to play in the Kubak offense Um you know I don’t know if he’s necessarily like a a super safe bet to make the like I think there’s just there’s a little bit more variance when you add in a new coaching staff with a new scheme that that wants to play a certain way and they’re they’re adapting an old roster to that Yeah As we do this maybe we should like we have the n like the number of players at that position but then we should talk about how many spots within that group are actually up for grabs how I thought about it And and and who maybe of the players you listed as on the roster Matt who’s the most likely to not be and then who of the players you didn’t list would you know fill in for that for that guy So let’s go through position by position We are going to start with the quarterbacks We’ve talked adnauseium about this quarterback competition I you know like I think Rattler and Shuck are going to make the team The third one is almost definitely Jake but like you said Luke like we don’t know that for sure And it’s not like you couldn’t sneak Jay Kainer onto a practice squad Uh yeah like I just for the record I still do think Jay Ker is on the roster you know in September 9th or whenever they open the season Um I just like I I do think that there is some like a possibility for this to get a little weird at some spots here Um look he’s a guy who’s I think he’s he’s been really impressive in the practices I I know he’s really good in the meetings He’s a really really sharp player but like he just hasn’t shown it on the field Um so like you know if he doesn’t pop during this training camp and if they really think they have something in in Deckers you know maybe they they’d rather keep him as the third quarterback the emergency third quarterback Maybe they don’t keep three quarterbacks at all you know I think that would be a little strange given the the fact that they don’t have like really any experience on the roster at the position but like I mean I just do think that there’s there’s an avenue for this to get a little little funky at that position specifically this offseason I did put Hainer on mine but I like I thought about it for like a while like I was kind of going back and forth on that third spot So um and like Luke said I mean I think it just kind of comes down to how he does in training camp but I do see a way that he does not make this team Do you think he does get first team reps i mean like from the beginning Kell Moore said he’s part of this this conversation but like I don’t know it’s getting harder and harder to believe that as as the summer’s gone on he’s obviously missed some time at the Oblique Yeah I think with these quarterbacks being so young with a rookie and a second year guy Like I just I don’t know if you really have room to squeeze any first team reps in with Exactly Every first team rep you give Jake is taking away from Yeah You’re taking it away from Chuck or Rattler So I don’t I don’t see that I I will say keeping three quarterbacks Matt like they could just keep two active I mean either Hayner or Deckers you’re going to be able to get through on the practice squad You could elevate them if needed later in the season I mean like you could you could just keep two on the 53 Yeah you can manipulate it I mean you could have made that same argument last year I think teams are a little bit more cautious these days about wanting to keep three the trend for a long time was two but we’ve seen so many quarterback injuries the last few years here but you think about that Brock Pretty uh NFC Championship game against the Eagles a few years ago Like feel like teams are taking a little bit more of a cautious approach They’re more comfortable with having three on the roster And so I think that that that that kind of swayed it for me But I also do think Hayden’s going to get first team reps By the way it might come at the end of all right we’ve done our 11 ons and here are two spare reps get in there kid But I I think we’ll at least see him a little bit I I think Kellen Moore will give lip service to the idea that he’s at least early in camp that he’s in the competition So okay moving on to running back The only name here that’s set in stone is Alvin Chimera I I don’t I mean Deon Neil is a rookie They spent the draft pick on him You figure he’ll make the team That brings us to Kendra Miller Clyde Edwards Aair Cam Acres Like I I don’t know who It’s going to be one of the most fascinating battles in camp is who backs up AK Yeah Yeah And like for the record like we we did not basically get to see anything of value in the offseason program with the OTAAS and the mini camp uh was seeing what these guys could do in the run game specifically Basically what they were limited to do in front of our eyes was position drills and like a little bit of stuff catching the ball out of the back field in seven on sevens walk through running Yeah So like I I have such a bad read on this right now Uh it’s really just like okay can they can they get the light bulb to click on for Kendrick Miller like can Devin Neil become like the latest day three pick to to find some success in the NFL there’s been three guys in the last three years who are day three picks who ran for a thousand yards I think it was uh Kairen Williams Tyler Algier and um Bucky Irving And then uh uh what’s the the kid from Cincinnati chase Brown Chase Brown Yeah Illinois kid Uh he ran for 990 last year So like you know it’s it’s definitely possible but like it’s not like a given you know but I need to see it in in like some contact drills I need to see it like actually go at something close to full speed in these practices before I can really say like that guy’s got it or that guy doesn’t With them not having a fullback now did you all both go with four running backs or you just went with three i went with four I had Well I went for four tight ends I think Jack Stole would be the So you did three running backs though I did four running backs as well I went Well see you later Yeah he Matt had Clyde as his fourth I’m looking at your list right now You’ve got Cam as your fourth Surprise surprise Homer Well I guess the question is this Like I don’t know if you even need I mean that’s four like Well what do you need the fourth for i I Kendra Miller can’t stay healthy I mean that’s point number one Deon Neil you don’t know what you have So maybe you need Did you put four Matt just because you couldn’t decide who to cut or what was your thought process i I put four I was going to cut KA Miller and he was the one I was specifically thinking about where I was like well have I really seen enough to cut him no But I think he’s on real thin ice That’s just more of a gut feel based on how last year unfolded how he’s seen in OTAAS where he was working with like some of the backups and I just think he really has to prove it And then as for four you know teams keep four from time to time You’ll have like an emer you’ll have one inactive but teams will keep three running backs up one to play special teams Um Clyde Edwards Lair you know maybe he’s more of the pass protection receiving back option uh if not just the straight runner It feels like there’s room for him to make the roster but it could be three it could be four it could be um Xavian Valad has popped here and there People have just not stopped asking me about Marcus Yarn so I will be paying more attention to him come training camp Uh yeah it’s just a real open position Uh and one guy I want to kind of throw on here somebody just to keep an eye on for this sort of thing where you talk about specific roles somebody can play is uh Vis Jones right um who could be on the roster essentially as like a JT Gray type where he’s like he’s a running back who’s on the roster and he’s active on game day but he’s he’s like their return man and he’s offering some some coverage stuff on special teams Um but like that’s I I think kind of a long shot in my opinion at this point So who’s your fourth guy i don’t know if I’m gonna go for uh I I think I think if I were like building this out right now I would probably keep three and it would be AK obviously and then Kendrick and Deon Neil K Kendra Miller seems simultaneously like the most likely guy to possibly be cut off this list and also the most likely guy to be the the number two Boomer Yeah Like the the the guy clearly behind command Boomer B I just I just wrote a like a running back preview uh yesterday It should be publishing next month But like he’s like the guy you could see on this team running for 800 yards Uh or also the guy who’s on some on like the Chiefs practice squad you know right It’s not going to be the Bears right yeah Yeah That would be the most hilarious twist Kendry Miller Dennis Allen reunited and it feels so good Um okay Wide receivers You kept six Matt You got you know Olve Shahed Cooks Those guys are locked in I think Bub Means is pretty close to locked in You You filled it out with Cedric Wilson and Dante Pettis Any any overarching thoughts there who who was on the bubble for you i needed a I needed a returner there That was the Dante Pettis inclusion And you know you look up every once in a while I know there’s Dante Pettis catching another pass Like he’s he’s pretty involved in the mix here I think there’s room for him to make it Um Cedric Wilson yeah the familiarity with Kell Moore as Luke mentioned I think gives him a slight edge And then Bub Means I think has been had a really impressive off season Looks like he’s already positioned to take kind of that step And so I kept six but it is it’s pretty up for grabs I mean if you told me they they added to this position and a six guy who’s not on the roster currently makes the team like it wouldn’t shock me Yeah Yeah I kind of feel the same Like I I think I would have the same as you Uh I I would probably keep six receivers instead of four running backs personally Um Matt did both I did both but I’m light elsewhere which I think I might be wrong about Well I just think that I think both Pettis and uh both Pettis and Wilson have some familiarity with uh with Kell Moore Both uh well Wilson at least gives them something they don’t have with the top three and that’s like at least some physicality I think he’s a good run blocking player a receiver Um and uh you know I mean Kell Moore played college ball with Dante Pettis’s cousin Like there’s familiarity with that family too And like you said uh look he was a guy who was like a a pretty high draft pick when he was coming out Had some nice seasons then he battled injuries for a couple years but like I think there’s there might be more there than what we saw last year which is really like his first time playing in like two years So yeah I mean that could be totally wrong and it might not really even matter We’re talking about like the fifth six receiver on the team but like I think that like if I were ranking it that’s probably exactly how I would go and I would probably also keep six as well I had the same five except I had Donovan Peep Jones instead of Pettis as the last one But I do think that’s going to be one of the position battles you know going for that last spot those last two spots I guess toward the bottom But I think the first three are pretty much locked in I think B means is probably locked in So I think you probably got two slots left Yeah And and if the Saints should go sign somebody here Yeah Who who’s on the chopping block then cedric Wilson in addition to I mean probably like if they’re going to sign somebody it’s going to be somebody in that mold right right Uh so and while Cedric Wilson had some success with Kell Moore that was what four years ago You just can’t live oh I know that guy so I can’t cut him Like that’s just not the way an NFL coach can operate But that’s how they work Well and and like you think about last year look Chris Olive who played in eight games who played in less than half a season and in those eight games he left two of them before he played 10 snaps He led all receivers in receiving yards in this team last year And we’re talking about bringing basically the same unit back plus Brandon Cooks So uh like I don’t think any of these guys are necessarily safe even if they like make the 53 Like I I think there’s just definitely some chance this room gets see some some turnover get some players added to it even though they basically haven’t added to it throughout the offseason How many So led the league or led the league led the team with four led the receivers with 400 That’s this year that he’s going to lead the league Yeah led it with 400 yards in eight games and two of those games he left very early Like how many receivers I guess you can include the tight ends in there How many people top 400 this year for them okay Well so Jawan actually Jawan Johnson led the team in receiving last year and Alvin Jan and Alvin both topped 400 last year I think they’ll do it again this year Uh Shahed and and I think will top it And I think Cooks will top it So I think five total Yeah But do any of I think Cooks would be at like Yeah Five 600 yards like I I I I think maxing out for him Um because I do think that they’re just considering what this offense is with a with a young quarterback in there I think they are going to lean heavily on the ground attack Um so like would I be surprised if both and Shahed topped a thousand yards if they stayed healthy no We’re totally off topic but how many passing yards over under for the Saints this year um like 3400 I was gonna say 35 but setting the Yeah 35 maybe or 32 because if and Shahed both threaten a thousand yards and you got three other guys at 400 Well you’re at 3200 right there before you even throw in all the right sort of you know odds and ends as backup tight ends and Yeah Well but I don’t think you can count on a L and Shahed to boast That’s true So like you know in the ideal scenario yeah like I I think you could pass for 38 3,900 yards in this offense but like I I don’t think you can like absolutely bank on the ideal scenario happening I also think if like if things go according to plan the Saints want to run they may also be spending a lot of fourth quarters needing to pass If you know if you’re down 10 points entering the fourth quarter every week you can throw a lot of passes Um so I don’t know interesting and and like you might want to run but like you’re still like even teams who want to run the ball and run run it a lot still probably have more than a 50/50 split passing the football right yeah Derek Carr’s high here was 3878 and that was a season where he missed he missed chunks of three games Yeah Yeah Jameus probably had three or four What was the team total that year i was only on his game We’re doing this live Uh okay Come on load 3,900 Uh almost 4,000 3990 So that we’ll see I I I think there’s only you know so many passes to go around in this offense but it is an interesting question kind of who fills out the roster All right we’re at 13 players at least on Matt’s list Three quarterbacks four running backs six receivers Moving on to the O line This is where you kind of made up a spot probably I think a lot of teams would would pick nine offensive linemen You’ve only got eight Matt Yeah it’s I feel good about like the starters I feel good about the first three depth spots and and just to just to because it’s not on the screen The you have the starters Kelvin Banks Trevor Penning Eric McCoy Caesar Ruiz Tally Fuanga and then the three backups you chose were Dylan Raidens Will Clap and Landon Young have a couple of backup interior guys in a in a swing tackle Yeah Um Nick Sali was the one that I was like going back and forth on whether I should keep for a nine Um another one of those guys who has no ties to the current regime Yeah that and he’s hurt all the time That’s why I left him off Like this is to me is as is a position that as much as they emphasize like we need offensive line depth we need offensive line depth Like you have a 16-man practice squad fill it with offensive linemen like that’s I I think like that’s the spot where you can maybe manipulate the most if you need that flexibility And they probably will go more than eight but right now with just how I looked at it there wasn’t anyone like oh my god I have to have him on to be my ninth or even 10th guy We’ve seen that I just went a little lighter there but I’m prepared to be wrong Salivary is the next guy right yeah I’d keep nine with Selderberry Uh but like you go through to Matt’s point I think that um I think it’s totally possible he doesn’t make the roster Um you know and we’ll also see what some of these guys look like once the Pats come on Like I don’t know maybe Simpkins or Yeah or like you know Josiah Zerum their seventh round pick from last year He spent all last year on the practice squad maybe he made a a big jump after you spending a year basically as red shirt coming out of a small school You know he had like traits and size and all that stuff Like maybe they can coach him up and they like what he like there’s there’s a number of different routes this can go but I do think that those first three guys after the uh after the starting five are probably the ones I’d feel most comfortable with Raidens can give you left and right guard Um Clap can give you guard center Landon Young can give you four positions if you need it Um so that’s that’s probably where I would go to For me I mean Sala was like probably like the 54th guy for me and I just kind of ended up adding that fourth running back but if I hadn’t had that fourth running back he would have been my guy So so you also had eight on the O line Yeah Yeah And I probably should I mean not thinking about it now I mean he probably should have been they probably will go with nine I would imagine But I did go with eight too The the only thing I’ll say about eight versus nine there have been games I’m thinking of the one in Houston two years ago where I think the Saints had three offensive line injuries in the same game So if you only have eight active that’s literally everybody Well but there’s going to be one there’s going to be one healthy scratch Yeah Pretty much every game just because of the the the what is it 45 or 46 game day seven right it’s always It’s like It used to be seven but now it can be five because you can elevate two people from the practice squad which screws with the numbers It’s Yeah It’s just like I I mean I I think if they keep nine there’s going to be one inactive for every game So you’re still going into a game with with eight active offensive linemen Okay So that’s 21 as we continue the count here Tight end you kept four I did And I notably did not have Taesm Hill on this list but because I think he’s going to be still injured IR pup Yeah The chance of him making the opening day 53 Yeah Is not good Foster Maro uh for Do you think he’ll start the year injured so if they start on IR they miss the first four weeks right yeah Um I mean his injury was after Taesm Mills and his it was in the final game of the year Um I I would I would bet both of those guys start the year in IR Okay I had Foster Maro just because he’s been around a lot He seems optimistic but that could also just be Foster Maro’s personality That was the one of the ones I had a tougher time with Yeah the injuries are how you color this one Like Foster said he would be ready for training camp right now I don’t know Maybe again that’s just him being optimistic but if he is he’ll make the roster The other guys you had were Jawan Johnson Jack Stole who at least in the mini camp practice I saw was all over the place and then uh Maliki Matavo am I saying that right um the the rookie from tight end Yeah Yeah I think if Foster Maro is healthy four Yeah Yeah like if he’s starting the season on the active roster or like on the active roster but like not able to play until like week three or something like that you know which is like a possibility then four If both of those guys are in IR I don’t know Like do you keep like Triton Welch or Michael Jacobson just to have a fourth tight end no I would probably do three and then I would keep an extra offensive lineman if both those guys are hurt I I do think they’ll keep uh Mattel I there was one rookie I didn’t include and I’m still kind of kicking myself because I just think in the first year of like a new regime or a new coaching staff like even though there are nine draft picks here and that’s a lot of players like I feel like they’re going to lean toward keeping their guys Who was the one you didn’t include uh defensive end Yeah I thought it was another one you didn’t include too Did you have did you have Jonas on there oh they’re not they’re not cutting Yiannis No I’m saying did he have him on his I think I did I don’t think I did If he didn’t that’s a that’s a go I’m looking at it right now I don’t Yeah you don’t have them on there We have to go back So I have to go back This published this morning but um maybe an edit in store I was actually ask you yesterday I can just I can stick them on my 53 and say “Hey that’s my bad.” All right Sorry Burgers All right sticking to the offensive line or I’m sorry sticking to the tight ends Uh were you where were you on this i had kind of the same I I I did have Don Hulker on mine because I’m just such a fan of his as well So he’s probably not going to be on the team but um even though he cut the hair Yeah that might Was that the source of his power Is Don Hawker a cut are we all thinking that except for Rod who’s just hoping against Hope i mean I don’t know Like I you know I just had him over the rookie just thought he’d have a better I think of the other like if you’re looking for for another receiving option at tight end like I think he’s clearly the second best one on the roster behind Jawan Um but that’s just based off of I mean it’s based off of college and training camp last year you know it’s not it’s not based off of anything else He didn’t do he didn’t really do anything in the games Um and we haven’t seen much of them in uh the offseason programs So um but like I think he gives you more as a receiver than Stall or Matava or you know Drayton Walt or whatever Um but like his spot feels like very very tenuous and it really just depends on what they want You know if they want like bigbodied people movers out there behind Jawan then you keep Mavau and Stole Yeah And for a team that wants to run the ball right like we may see that Now if if Taesm andor Foster start the year on IR that obviously opens up another spot in the meantime and may you know maybe one of these guys hangs around at least at least to open the season All right so that is the offense We are at 25 players We’re going to take a quick break We’ll be back and continue our 53man roster projection on the Saints Insider right after this There’s no better place to parlay than Caesar Sports Book With Quick Picks you can tap right into pre-built ready to bet parlays right from the home screen And if you miss tip off no worries You can play same game parlays live during the action Plus it’s never been easier to find and bet on the biggest matchups of the day so you can keep up with all the action Caesar Sportsbook proud partner of the NBA and the only sportsbook app with Caesar’s rewards Download it today Welcome back to the Saints Insider Going through a 53man roster projection Um you know post mini camp before training camp Going to change a lot but we we’ve got 25 names on offense We’re going to go 25 names on defense and then leave three for the specialists And we’ve already noticed one mistake We’ll get to that It’s all right Uh start with edge rushers Um do we do edge rushers or defensive linemen first i combined them in the first I combined them into 10 Let’s do D lineman first We’ll do D lineman first So in in in a three four defense we’re talking about you know the guys with their hands in the dirt b their hands in the rubber essentially Um this is where there’s kind of a log jam Like if you don’t even count Brian Brezie who we think will probably move out to end I don’t know is probably the right word Probably Yeah Yeah I mean they’re they’re going to keep him regardless but just guys we know are probably like nose tackle candidates You have Devon Godshaw you have Vernon Broton the draft pick and then you have Nathan Shepard Colin Saunders coming back with John Rididgeway Like you’ve got a lot of guys there who are not all going to make the team Yeah Yeah I I mean but like I think that’s okay I mean you know no disrespect to any of those guys It’s it’s just like a log jam of kind of like the same players right none of them are are special that we don’t think We don’t know about Vern and Brott yet but Well yeah I mean Broton’s going to make the team There’s no doubt in my mind about that Uh but like I think he and Brazier you’re kind of looking at as your like three four ends So that leaves with three of those guys on the interior you’re probably going to keep Uh so that’s Gotcha I think is is going to be on the team Uh and I think probably Shepard and and Saunders What about Jonah Williams yeah I think so Jod Williams is a guy who could probably play on the He’s been involved like all over the place Yeah I just like I don’t know I I think they keep three interior players uh not counting Brazie as one of those and I think two end players But I don’t know you’re starting to get into like kind of some of the weird dynamics with like the three four and how different it is uh versus you know what they they have been running I I think that’s one of the that is one of the trickier ones in the roster when it comes to figuring out who stays and who goes Matt the six you had were Bris God Shaw Brotten Saunders Shepard and then you added Jonah Williams Yeah I it’s I mean like John Rididgeway and Christian Boyd are your kind of run stuffing defensive tackles but because you traded for God Shaw you drafted Broton I thought that you know they could be a little bit more expendable The toughest one I had a tough time with is keeping Shepard and Saunders I didn’t know whether I should swap that out but they both redid their contracts which makes the cap implications of moving on from them a little bit more tricky Um you know Shepard hadn’t been around through the OTAAS but I mean neither was JT Gray and we’re not saying JT Gray is in danger of missing the roster Like I just think Shepard can still be a contributor And you know I didn’t know whether to keep six like defensive linemen I only kept four edge rushers Maybe you swap one of those guys out for another edge rusher Like I think there is some flexibility here And it was like this is this is what I need training camp for I’ll have a better idea after training camp I’ I’d probably go five and five Yeah the the lines are hard because we haven’t seen them actually line up in pads and and hit each other I I to me this was the position where I kept thinking to your point way back when the offseason began they were going to cut Shepard or cut Saunders I mean those were obvious salary cap relief candidates and they didn’t do that and then they added bodies They added Broton in the draft They brought in Devon Godshaw They still have John Rididgeway hanging around Like it just seems like they got a whole bunch of bodies here Rod what did you what did you do here yeah I mean I I kind of looked at Mats and I did use six on that one but and I only had four edge rushes too which I think is probably I think they probably end up with five I don’t think four is going to be enough So and I actually had the exact same six that he had I mean I to me Jonah Williams is kind of the wild card I kind of stuck them on there but I don’t know if he’ll he’ll be on there So yeah I mean like I But six is a lot because I think Brotten and Brazie are going to be the base ends right but like do they are they going to be the only ones you know because I think they keep three interior guys right emperor Z if they’re if they’re in like a like a sub formation is probably going to switch back to playing some like three technique there Um so you probably need another If it’s only five which of these guys is is not making it yeah I mean like that’s I think that’s Do you keep do you keep both Colin and Shepherd man cuz I think I think God is going to make the team Like I think he gives him like a physical presence that knows none of the other guys do Uh so I Does that mean you cut one of Shepherd and Saunders to keep Williams you know I’m more of those three Yeah Yeah Unless they keep six Um but you’re getting into like a numbers question right and and that will lead us right into edge rusher which Matt you have four Chase Young Carl Granderson we know they’ll make the team Cam Jordan he’s not going to go anywhere Um and then the fourth you have is Isaiah Fosky and he’s kind of I mean again like has done nothing since being a second round pick in in 2022 2023 Yes It’s only been two years and he was a second round pick Can’t seem to get on the field either because of injury because he hasn’t been effective So you think oh he’s an obvious cut candidate But the Saints also don’t have a ton of bodies here to put on the active roster Yeah it’s he’s the one that he was involved in the spring Like we saw him taking seven on seven reps It feels like they’re giving him a chance He’s definitely going to need the chance He’s going to have to show some sort of production There are two other guys I considered for edge rusher that I think actually have a maybe a good shot of making it One is obviously the rookie from Syracuse Fidel Diggs um good traits strong production in college even though he’s a seventh run pick I just kind of like his profile as a player and hopefully he has a strong training training camp and can make it The other guy is Chris Rump Uh veteran but has a lot of experience with Staley He’s kind of a solid rotational pass rusher Everyone kind of needs that type of player on your roster a guy who can get you three and a half four sacks a year just come in play 30% of the snaps Like I feel like he could be that for them And um so I had Fosski just given the pedigree I don’t know if this front office wants to bail on him yet but he’s definitely a prove it guy for me Same for me I had Foski just kind of by default but he could very easily lose his job if he doesn’t have a good camp You got to show something Yeah he’s got I mean like I think I might be out on Fosski Yeah I think I’d keep five and it would be Diggs and and Rump would be the other two So you’re cutting and keeping both of those Yeah Yeah And look I I mean you know we are talking about basically the depth pieces and planning for for the future Um and I think Diggs seems like a guy who who would be like a like kind of a red shirt type candidate who’s not active very often on game day And um you know Ruff is the other the other one who’s up because he’s he’s shown he can do it and he’s proven it Um I I just like there’s certainly a chance shows he can do something in this new in this new defense and it’s more suiting for his uh his skill set but it’s just it’s it’s been two years We haven’t we haven’t seen it in training camp practices We haven’t seen it in games Like I just I just think he just might not he just might not be it for for this level All right At linebacker in the and in the three four really talking about middle linebackers here which there of course in a base D there’ll be two on the field Your starters Deario Davis Pete Warner Then the rookie Danny Stsman Nephi Su and DeMarco Jackson You kept five Matt There’s also big-time special teams implications here as well Yeah Uh Jaylen Ford’s another player that could easily make this roster because of special teams um fifth round pick from a year ago Then it had a really up and down rookie season more down than up Um this is a spot that I considered just giving four because like do you really need five inside linebackers when you have positions elsewhere that’s where I looked at the history and Brandon Staley has always kept five inside linebackers Now obviously he’s not the head coach but I’m sure he’ll have a say and I just think they’re going to go with five Yeah I agree And uh and I think the the core special teams aspect is a big part of this Linebackers play a lot of special teams Nephi Su has been a core special team for him Um Jaylen Ford Demarco Jackson has too Demarco Jackson has too Jaylen Ford is somebody who played a lot of special teams in college Um so like I think the three that are obviously going to make the team are the two starters and Stzman And then I think the other two it’s going to come down to who performs better on special teams And like Nephi has like a long-standing relationship with Phil Galliano They really like him in that role I think he’s he feels pretty solid for me as a special teams depth player And then the other one’s going to come down to Jackson Ford For me for me this was like out of all the positions I thought this was probably the easiest one for me and I went with the five I mean with Demarco and and Nephi as the other two guys behind Demario Stsman and Pete Wernern but I just thought that one was pretty sick But I do think there’s I mean there’s a way that Ford can make his way Jackson or Ford at the end I think for that last that’s one of those you know who’s the 53rd guy who’s on the practice squad could change week to week Um all right the secondary and we kind of group this together You have five corners and five safeties Some of these guys Ugo Amadi is a little bit interchangeable Obviously this is where the Yonas Sanker thing comes in We need to put Sanker in I have since fixed that By the time you are reading that I did that in the chair just now in blocks So if you if you can find a copy of the story that still has Terrell Burgess on there it’s like it’s like a baseball card with an error It’s worth millions of dollars now Oh yeah Yeah Unfortunately the uh Steve McNair rookie card I have with him in a Vikings helmet isn’t worth a lot of money It’s really weird Anybody got a Billy Ripken uh I can’t say the word on TV No he’s got it written on his knob of his bat If you if you know you know Um okay back on topic Matt Versatility I think plays a big role here Yeah it does And it’s just about what they value do they want like how many outside cornerbacks do they want versus Nickel Um special teams is another component Um you know JT Gray is a perennial like allp pro type of player for special teams You have your two starters Now if you really wanted I don’t think it’s going to happen But if you told me like “Give me your most surprising cut candidate.” Oh baby I know where you’re going And I don’t think it’s going to happen I want to make that clear But is Tyron Matthew a lock to make this roster i think he is I know where I know where you’re going I know why you’re going there I I appreciate the uh the the dots are connecting but I I don’t think there’s any way if he wasn’t like local legend Tyron Matthew maybe Yeah I just guys miss mandatory mini camp all the time but or like not mandatory like the OTAA sessions but for him to come back and like be working with the twos and like he was on a pitch count for some reason just was a I got a weird vibe from that and that made me start to wonder what’s going on here But maybe it’s just a weird vibe and they’ll sort it out all through training camp But I don’t know Yeah I mean it’s it I think he’s going to make it to be clear It would it would be a a shocking move I don’t think it’d be like I don’t think it’s completely out of the realm of possibility but it would be shocking Who are your starters then reed and Reed and Matthew No but I mean if Matthew gets cut Oh Jordan Howden How okay Not Sanker Yeah No I team Matt already cut him I did since uh her vise See this is this is why teams have a front office You got checks and balances just like we do here Kai Harley and Michael Parington on the site in check Who did you have Matt you sanker for Burgess but otherwise the same math list Yeah Well yeah I got excited when I saw he left Sanker off I was like “Oh yeah I got Matt on this We got to talk.” No that’s that was a brain fart Yeah Yeah Reed Matthew Sanker uh JT JT Gray um and Hen and Jordan Howden are my five And then five corners pretty obvious Taylor McKinstry Riley I Ugo Amadi The Well Amadi over Rico Payton Yeah I a little bit too I think I I would probably uh I’d probably keep Rico Payton in that I think he’s shown some some flashes of being a very good special teamer You say Rico over Amati yeah Yeah Um I just feel like I noticed Ammani doing a lot more on like defense but again this is like that that is very much a position where they could they could still add to it and probably will before the start of the season Yeah but I mean this might be the most likely position for them to add I I would think Um you know we don’t we don’t know what uh Asante Samuel is early July They said he’s getting his medical checkup so he’s definitely a name to to look out for And I just Are they going to spend all of their money maybe not all of it but it it sure feels like they’re going to spend some of it here Yeah I agree Okay that’s 50 That leaves three specialists Kicker punter long snapper I guess I mean Matt you just said the three starters from last year Yeah you know Zach Woods locked in Blake groupy I don’t see how like I know everybody loves Charlie Smith I love Charlie Smith How how can you get rid of Blake Groupy after the season he had and that leaves punter So either the incumbent kicker or punter are they in danger that’s the question here Yeah Um James Burnup looked pretty good the other day Um so did Charlie Smith I I just the the Saints punter has lost their job in training camp two years in a row For it to happen a third it kind of feels I mean it could but why can’t they find a good punter i don’t know I what’s going fine besides the Giants game when he just got absolutely dog cussed at midfield He was fine besides that Um I just I I wouldn’t chalk here I just think it’s going to be a consistency thing and I don’t know I’m open to change Any disagreements from you guys no I think that’s how it’s gonna play out I think it would have to be like like Charlie Smith would have to have just like an electric training camp it it would have to be really really consistent plus the big leg that he’s shown throughout his time with with New Orleans Um because groupy’s just been really good Like I think you can count on him you know and that is something that is like a desperately sought after thing in the NFL Like do you have a kicker you can count on and I I think group has shown he can be that over really over the last year plus He was I I think 27 to 31 last year Um he did miss two extra points Uh one of them might have been blocked Um but otherwise I mean really really really solid And I think if you’re going into a season with with Charlie Smith you have to kind of assuage those concerns of him being inconsistent because he’s still so young in into this professional football thing This offense can’t be leaving points on the board man You right If you get in a position for three you better be getting three Raven signed Jer Alexander by the way so he’s off break I’m curious what the uh anybody anybody know the terms on that this is happening live as we record here Ravens sign Jier Alexander who I don’t I mean we talked about this in last week’s pod Like I don’t know that he was ever a super realistic candidate for the Saints I think Samuel is probably much more much more likely for them Yes So okay we’re going to wrap things up here That’s our 53man roster projection mid June edition We we’re going to be a lot different by mid August and certainly by the end of August when this thing has to be finalized So uh stay tuned for that We’re going to have more episodes for you over the next couple of weeks um while we all kind of peel off and take vacation So if there’s some huge piece of news that happens and we’re not talking about it on the podcast that’s why because those are all pre-recorded before we’re going off to various locations around the world So um we’ll see you on the flip side For Rod Walker Luke Johnson and Matthew Paris our producer was Norman Bell I’m Zach Yuing and we’ll see you next time on the Saints Insider