The Saints have been in training camp for a couple of weeks now, with plenty to take from each day. From bottom of the roster players showing out to vets fighting for their spots. I think at this stage a fun exercise to undertake would be to predict the Saints 53-man roster based on all the reports and whispers I’ve heard since camp started and throughout the rest of the off-season. Here I will predict the offense with part 2 featuring the defense and specialists coming soon.

Offense

Quarterbacks (3)

Derek Carr 

Jameis Winston 

Jake Haener

This is probably the easiest position group on the roster to predict. Carr has been excellent so far in camp and looks to be everything the Saints thought he would be. Winston is arguably one of the best backup QBs in the league, from all reports he’s had a solid camp but there certainly seems to be a big uptick in QB play from Winston to Carr.

The biggest surprise of the group has been 4th round rookie Jake Haener (one of ‘my guys’ from this draft cycle) who has not looked one bit like a rookie from all reports around camp. Haener has looked decisive, in good control of the system and has avoided a lot of the classic rookie QB mistakes. He’s also added in some wow throws especially on deep shots, at this stage, Haener has already shown much greater promise than any other QBs the Saints have drafted in the Sean Payton and post Sean Payton eras.

Running backs/Fullback (4)

Alvin Kamara

Jamaal Williams

Kendre Miller

Adam Prentice (FB)

The top three players here are slam-dunks to predict. All have looked good in camp, especially Kamara and Miller. There hasn’t been much coverage of Williams apart from his unique answers to interview questions but he appears as advertised. Miller has been electric so far per reports with many on the Saints beat commenting on his burst, vision and underrated pass-catching ability. On paper, this looks to be one of the best backfields that the Saints have had probably since 2017. 

Having 2 players the calibre of Williams and Miller behind Kamara will only help his utilisation, Kamara has already been working with the WRs in camp, which gives me hope his use as a pass catcher will increase from last season. 

The tricky element for predicting this group is Alvin Kamara’s 3-game suspension the Saints will have to carry Kamara on the 53 before they put him on the Reserve/Suspended, which will then give them back an open roster spot. This then gives the team two options carry an extra running back which could have been Eno Benjamin but he sadly ruptured his Achilles during Saturday's practice.  Ellis Merriweather has flashed in camp as has converted WR and camp standout from last season Kirk Merritt. You sign one or both to the practice squad and elevate them on gamedays. Players can be elevated for gamedays twice before needing to be signed to the active roster. With Kamara’s suspension being 3 games this would be in my opinion would be the better option to give the Saints another roster spot available for players they don't think will get through waivers.

Now with Benjamin's injury I'd expect the Saints to add a RB in the coming days who could end up being an option for the 53.

Wide Receiver (5)

Michael Thomas 

Chris Olave 

Rashid Shaheed 

Tre’Quan Smith 

A.T. Perry

The top three here are like the RBs Thomas, Olave and Shaheed are locks bearing anything unforeseen. After Shaheed is murky and Saints fans won’t want to hear this but as it stands Tre’Quan is yet again going to make this team, he’s been the best of the rest so far in practice, has started to add special teams to his repertoire and of course, is one the best-blocking WRs in the NFL.

Perry has made plays but has been inconsistent I think at this stage he sounds to have shown enough to warrant a place on the 53. I had high hopes for Bryan Edwards given his rapport with Carr, solid contested catch abilities and underrated blocking skills would have translated to him being the easy number 4 WR, so far in camp per reports he hasn’t really shown too much to warrant a spot over Smith or Perry.

Other players with a puncher's chance are James Washington, Keke Coutee and Keith Kirkwood. All 3 have flashed in camp and id imagine at least 2 could find their way to the practice squad if they do not make the initial 53.

Tight End (4) 

Juwan Johnson

Foster Moreau 

Taysom Hill 

Jimmy Graham

Again, the top 3 here are locks in my opinion, all three have had good camps and made plays regularly although Johnson has not quite ascended as I expected just yet I still have high expectations for him this season. Due to Taysom’s expected diverse role, I expect the Saints to keep 4 TEs, I’ve gone with Graham who would likely see a very specialised rule in the redzone and other obvious passing situations.

 I could make a case for Jesse James over Graham as the Saints are a bit light on blocking in this room. Moreau is solid, Johnson showed improvements last season and Taysom has shown promise as a blocker, it isn’t their ‘bread and butter’ like it was for Josh Hill In years past. I could see the Saints adding a more distinguished blocker to this group down the line, depending on how much Johnson has developed.

Offensive Line (9)

Trevor Penning

James Hurst

Erik McCoy

Cesar Ruiz

Ryan Ramczyk

Andrus Peat

Nick Saldiveri

Calvin Throckmorton 

Landon Young 

Penning, Hurst, McCoy, Ruiz, Ramczyk are locks, Peat and Saldiveri feel close to that, but there could be a chance that one or both somehow don’t make it. If Peat does lose his starting job to Hurst (which looks very likely currently) he would be quite an expensive backup so maybe the Saints would cut bait? I’d find it unlikely given the history of injuries across the line but it is something within the realms of possibility. Reports on Saldiveri have been quiet but the Saints were very high on him in the draft, id be very surprised if they cut bait on him at this stage.

Throckmorton and Young are interchangeable both have provided solid depth for this team in the past although Young has played snaps at both tackle spots and started at LG in Friday's practice with Peat and Hurst both not practising so he looks more of a solid bet for the 53. I could easily see Storm Norton as the vet backup tackle option instead of Young. On the interior Mark Evans II who they gave huge guarantees to as a UDFA, Lewis Kidd who the team were very high on last season and also had OT versatility if needed  or vet C/OG Max Garcia could all make it in place of Throckmorton. 

Keeping 10 O-linemen also wouldn’t be a crazy proposition as they have in the past.

That gives me 25 offensive players, leaving 27 spots left up for grabs for the defense and specialists. Keep an eye out for part 2 where I will go through my defensive and specialist players.

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