Offense

Quarterback (3)

• Derek Carr
• Jameis Winston 
• Jake Haener 

        No analyses necessary here this is as clear as it gets, Carr will be the starter, Winston (baring an trades, which I wouldn’t expect unless there is a godly offer) and Haener will be the emergency third QB active on gamedays.

Running backs (3)

• Alvin Kamara*
• Jamaal Williams 
• Kendre Miller

        Alvin Kamara will need to be carried on the initial 53 before being placed on the reserve/suspended list which will then give the Saints the roster spot back. I’m predicting that the Saints will not keep Ellis Merriweather on the 53, despite impressing but instead as its likely he will pass through waivers put him on the practice squad and then elevate him on gamedays to provide additional cover for Williams and Miller on gamedays. The same possibility exists for veteran RB Darrel Williams its even easier to do the same with him as he does not need to pass through waivers to be put on the practice squad.

        I’m also predicting that the Saints will not carry FB Adam Prentice on the 53 (to begin with) to allow the Saints to get keep other players who are a threat to be claimed by other teams. Instead, as he also doesn’t have to go through waivers either bring him back to 53 before week 1 once other players have been placed on IR or the suspended lists or also add him to the practice squad and elevate him for gamedays before signing him to the 53 later down the line.

Practice Squad Candidates- Ellis Merriweather, Darrel Williams, Adam Prentice

Wide Receiver (5)

• Michael Thomas 
• Chris Olave
• Rashid Shaheed 
• Tre’Quan Smith*
• A.T. Perry

        Smith has an * because I think he be carried initially so that the team can then place him on short-term IR.  With that roster Spot I expect the Saints to bring back vet WR Keith Kirkwood in some capacity either to the 53 or on practice squad to begin with before signing him to the 53 later down the line.

        The final spot for me goes to A.T. Perry the Saints were very high on him in the draft and Perry, after a slow start had a really training camp and preseason. I hear Saints fans everywhere hollering where is Shaq Davis??? I’ve been high on Davis since the first preseason game (before he caught fire) but I don’t see there’s enough room on the roster at this stage to carry him as well, I’ve predicted throughout the off-season that he’s going to be a practice squad player. Not because I don’t rate him, but because I don’t think the Saints will put him on the 53 at this stage.

 Practice Squad Candidates- Shaq Davis, Lynn Bowden, Kawaan Baker and Jontre Kirklin

Tight End (4)

• Juwan Johnson 
• Foster Moreau
• Taysom Hill
• Jimmy Graham

        Another reason for there not being room for Shaq Davis is he is not just competing with Perry for a roster spot but he’s also competing with Graham. Both, mammoth pass catchers with a specific role centered around the red  zone, third downs and contested-catch situations. If the Saints didn’t sign Graham, I think Davis probably makes the team. 

Despite his strong showing in the final preseason game, I don’t think there’s room for Luca Krull, he hasn’t done enough to show he can be a consistent contributor over Graham after some bad drops in the 2nd preseason game, if he made those plays then I think this decision is a lot tougher.

Practice Squad Candidates- Lucas Krull, J.P Holtz

Offensive Line (9)

• Trevor Penning
• James Hurst
• Erik McCoy
• Cesar Ruiz
• Ryan Ramczyk
• Andrus Peat
• Nick Saldiveri
• Calvin Throckmorton 
• Landon Young*

        I’ve maintained these 9 names for the offensive line in all of my predictions, the only difference here is I think Young is carried initially before going short-term IR to finishes his recovery from a sprained MCL, once this is done, I expect the Saints to bring back backup RT Storm Norton.

I could see the Saints keeping 10 here and keeping veteran Center Max Garcia to be the primary backup for Erik McCoy but I think they are going the practice squad route for now with Garcia, in the same way they did last year with vet Center Josh Andrews.

Practice Squad Candidates- Max Garcia, Lewis Kidd , Mark Evans and Tommy Kraemer

Defense 

Defensive Line (9)

• Cam Jordan 
• Carl Granderson
• Payton Turner
• Tanoh Kpassagnon 
• Isiah Foskey
• Bryan Bresee
• Nathan Shepherd
• Khalen Saunders
• Malcolm Roach

        Nothing much to add here this feels like a pretty obvious group. DT Jack Heflin and DE Niko Lalos made late pushes with an impressive preseason and end to training camp. This group is to stacked with high draft picks and vets who have had brilliant off-seasons for either to crack the 53 at this stage and I expect both to be practice squad priorities for the Saints.

Practice Squad Candidates- Jack Heflin, Niko Lalos and Jerron Cage

Linebacker (6)

• Demario Davis
• Pete Werner 
• Jaylon Smith
• Zack Baun
• D’Marco Jackson
• Nephi Sewell 

        Same here as my previous projection, I think the Saints go 6 LBs due to the heavy usage that LBs have on special teams, Baun, Jackson and Sewell are expected to be featured heavily in this phase of the game, with all three having solid upside on defense should there be injuries. With Davis and Werner being the starters and Smith as the primary backup for either spot as well as the starting SAM LB.

        I would have liked to have found a spot for rookie UDFA Anfernee Orji, but I don’t see the Saints keeping 7 here and I don’t think he has enough upside to start in defense if needed at this stage, so I expect him to be a priority for the practice squad.

Practice Squad Candidates- Anfernee Orji, Ty Summers and Ryan Connelly (depending on Injury status)

Cornerback (5)

• Marshon Lattimore
• Paulson Adebo
• Bradley Roby 
• Alontae Taylor
• Isaac Yiadom

        The top 4 goes without saying with the top three expected to be the starters with Taylor the primary backup on the outside. I’ve also kept Yiadom here as I expect him to be the starting Gunner on special teams opposite all pro special teamer J.T. Gray. Yiadom has also showed improvements on defense throughout the off-season so does have some value there too if needed.

        Rookie UDFA Anthony Johnson has also had a strong off-season but this position is too stacked for him to make the initial roster at this stage without the special teams ability that Yiadom has. I would expect him to be a priority for the practice squad.

Practice Squad Candidates- Anthony Johnson and Troy Pride Jr.

Safety (6)

• Tyrann Mathieu 
• Marcus Maye*
• Jordan Howden
• Lonnie Johnson Jr.
• J.T. Gray
• Ugo Amadi 

        Mathieu and Maye will be the starters with the primary backups expected to be Jordan Howden and Lonnie Johnson Jr. Crucially both players have played well on special teams throughout preseason so will provide good value in that phase, Howden also appears to be the preferred option in DIME packages. Amadi, appears to be the primary backup at slot CB and has good special teams value as a returner, gunner and on kick coverage. 

        Jonathan Abrams and Smoke Monday are unfortunately in my opinion the odd players out in a very deep position group. Both have had really solid off-seasons and any other years would be on the 53, I expect them both to be on the practice squad.

Practice Squad Candidates- Jonathan Abrams and Smoke Monday

Specialists (3)

• Will Lutz
• Blake Gillikin 
• Zach Wood

        I hate not having Grupe on the 53, but with the Saints current win now mode and previous issues with Kickers when Lutz was injured barring a trade, I just think they are going to go with the incumbent starter over the unproven product.  I have applied the same rationale for the Punter, by going with Blake Gillikin.

Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @SaintsReportUK, for much more Saints content and discussion throughout the 2023 season and beyond.