Updated 53-Man Roster Projection Part 2

Jamie UK • August 24, 2023

The Defense Looks Deep & Talented Across The Board

Earlier in the week I released my 2nd 53-man roster projection which projected who the offensive players are at this stage that I think will make the initial 53. In this article, I do the same for the defense and specialists.


Defensive Line 

First Projection (9)

Cam Jordan 

Carl Granderson

Payton Turner

Tanoh Kpassagnon 

Isiah Foskey

Bryan Bresee

Nathan Shepherd

Khalen Saunders

Malcolm Roach

Today’s Projection (9)

Cam Jordan 

Carl Granderson

Payton Turner

Tanoh Kpassagnon 

Isiah Foskey

Bryan Bresee

Nathan Shepherd

Khalen Saunders

Malcolm Roach


There isn't too much analyze in this group; it's pretty clear who the team is going to keep. We’ve seen some excellent play in both preseason games and in joint practices, from everyone on this list, except Isiah Foskey who unfortunately is progressing along slowly. Even Payton Turner has been making plays and he’s arguably played the best of any of the d-linemen in the preseason.

I wanted to highlight two other players who have impressed this off-season and look like prime practice squad candidates. Jack Heflin (DT) and Niko Lalas (DE) Heflin lead the team this preseason in pressures with 6 and Lalos is just coming off a 3-sack game against the Chargers. Lalos impressed in training camp last year and has flashed this year too. What's interesting about both players is that after bouncing around the NFL last season, they then went and played in the XFL which looks to have given them some extra seasoning that has helped their play this year.

Linebacker 

First Projection (5)

Demario Davis

Pete Werner 

Zack Baun

D’Marco Jackson

Nephi Sewell 

Today’s Projection (6)

Demario Davis

Pete Werner 

Jaylon Smith

Zack Baun

Nephi Sewell 

D’Marco Jackson


A new name to the list, Jaylon Smith, only signed a couple of days before the Chiefs game because of this he didn't play in that game. He played really well with the starters in joint practices against the Chargers and Starter at WILL in the game as Pete Werner didn't play and he didn't disappoint. He showed great sideline-to-sideline range, played the run well and even made a nice play in 1 on 1 coverage. He looks to be the Saints answer at LB if Pete Werner or Demario Davis end up missing any time in the regular season.

Jackson and Sewell have been core special teamers in the preseason. Both have been given good run with starters, Sewell seems to be ahead of Jackson on the depth chart with Sewell being the starting MIKE in both preseason games with Demario Davis out. With these two players, you get the best of both worlds, really solid special teams players and starter upside. 


I don't think Zack Baun has had a good off-season and I think other players have outperformed him at LB, namely Ryan Connelly, Anfernee Orji and the players mentioned above. However, the Saints don't seem to be wavering on Baun, nobody else has taken first-team snaps at SAM over Baun and Baun is still a strong presence on special teams.

Dennis Allen commented on Tuesday that Connelly has suffered a ‘fairly significant’ knee injury which also leans me towards Baun as Connelly was the main backup at SAM with him sidelined which leaves Baun with no other direct competition.


Orji reminds me of Nephi Sewell last off-season, a player who’s had a good camp and preseason but hasn’t quite done enough to crack the 53. He should be a prime practice squad candidate and a player to watch next off-season.


One other name I have to mention is Ty Summers (shout out @Kadinjanisch on Twitter for being his name 1 fan) Summers has looked good in the preseason ( he provided the pressure on Lonnie Johnson Jr.’s game-ceiling interception on Sunday)  and is a really good special teams player. I just don't think he has enough upside on defense to make the 53 over Sewell or Jackson at this stage, again another strong practice squad candidate. 


Cornerback 

First Projection (5)

Marshon Lattimore

Alontae Taylor

Paulson Adebo

Bradley Roby 

Isaac Yiadom


Today's Projection (4)


Marshon Lattimore

Alontae Taylor

Paulson Adebo

Bradley Roby 



No shocks here with these names, the difference here from last time was I opted to keep Isaac Yiadom on the initial roster. With me choosing to keep an extra WR and LB compared to last time meaning I had to make some sacrifices. Yiadom was one of them; he has shown improvements on defense after being really a special teams only player last year. Yiadom would be a perfect candidate for the practice squad as would rookie UDFA Anthony Johnson.


Safety 


First Projection (6)

Tyrann Mathieu 

Marcus Maye**

Jordan Howden

J.T. Gray

Ugo Amadi 

Lonnie Johnson Jr


Today's Projection (5)


Tyrann Mathieu 

Marcus Maye*

Jordan Howden

J.T. Gray

Ugo Amadi 


Similar, to Kamara in my offensive projection I have Mayte with an * as it's expected that he will be suspended to start the year. Still, the Saints will have to carry him on the 53 to begin with before getting the roster spot back for him going on the reserve/suspended list. When he does go on that list I expect Lonnie Johnson Jr to return to the roster, where he will compete for Maye’s starting spot with rookie Jordan Howden.


I had to find a spot for Amadi. He's been solid at safety and is the primary slot CB backup currently. He also has a lot of value on special teams as a returner and a gunner. This spot essentially came down to either keeping Amadi or Yiadom. I felt like Amadi provided my upside on defense. 


Smoke Monday and Jonathan Abrams are the notable names I've left out of this group, there's a theory that either could find their way onto the 53, both have played a lot on special teams in the preseason and have had solid camps on defense. It's just unfortunate for them that this is one of the deeper groups on the team and in another season at least one or both would have been on the 53.


Specialists 

First Projection (3)

Will Lutz

Blake Gillikin 

Zach Wood


Today's Projection (3)

Will Lutz

Blake Gillikin 

Zach Wood


I'm sticking to the same specialists as last time, Lutz and Blake Grupe have both performed very well in the kicking competition, so much so that NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan theorised that the Saints could trade Lutz with former Saints HC Sean Payton expected to be interested. I can predict if that will happen or not so I'm sticking with Lutz in this projection at this stage.

The punter job is the opposite of the kicker one, neither Blake Gillikin nor Lou Hedley have performed particularly well. Both have been inconsistent (which we saw Gillikin be last season) and neither have taken the bull by the horns and proved that they are the one who should win the job. So I've stuck with the incumbent starter over the unknown UDFA.

Last and by no means last Zach Wood, he's, well….. A very good LS that is all the analysis required there.


That completes my 53, ill have my final projection after the Saints final preseason game on Sunday. 


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




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Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.

Even the Restless can sit still

By Garrison Giddens • June 24, 2026
Why Pelicans fans should be grateful for a boring day 1 of draft night. 
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