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. 

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