The New Orleans Saints have beaten the Jets on four out of the last five matchups between the teams, including their last meeting, which was a forgettable 30-9 win against a rookie Zach Wilson. Right now,
though, both teams are out of contention and looking ahead to the draft.
Let’s break down the Saints roster, going position-by-position:
Quarterbacks
The Saints began the year with Spencer Rattler as their starting quarterback, after the veteran Derek Carr was forced into retirement by a shoulder injury in May. Rattler won just one of his eight starts before being replaced by second round rookie Tyler Shough.
Through six games, Shough’s numbers are remarkably similar to those of Rattler, but he’s looked composed and found a way to win three games, all against divisional opponents. He hasn’t been much of a big play threat, though, as his last 20-yard completion was on November 9th.
Taysom Hill is listed as the third string quarterback but is still used in a utility role. He’s thrown five passes, caught four and carried the ball 37 times this year.
Offensive Line
Much like the Jets, New Orleans’ offensive line is bookended by a couple of first round picks from the 2024 and 2025 drafts. Left tackle Kelvin Banks was the ninth overall pick in April and right tackle Taliese Fuaga was their first rounder last year.
Banks is the only offensive lineman to start every game so far this season but does lead the team with 10 penalties. Asim Richards has started four games in place of Fuaga, albeit that he is yet to start in consecutive weeks and is ruled out on Sunday.
With Will Clapp suffering a season-ending injury in preseason, pro bowler Erik McCoy replaced him at center, but he’s also on injured reserve now, so Luke Fortner has taken over. Fortner was acquired in a trade for current Jets defensive tackle Khalen Saunders in preseason.
Dillon Radunz is starting at left guard, although he missed several games with a toe injury. When he returned, the Saints traded his replacement, Trevor Penning, to the Chargers.
Cesar Ruiz is the starting right guard but he’s been ruled out of Sunday’s game. Undrafted rookie Torricelli Simpkins III, who has started one game at each guard spot, will probably fill in for him.
Another undrafted rookie, Xavier Truss, is also on the bench, but he hasn’t played yet. Will Sherman has played, but less than 50 snaps.
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara is still the Saints’ best running back but he hasn’t been to a pro bowl since 2021 and is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry this year. He’s also given up six sacks in pass protection.
Kamara has been ruled out of Sunday’s game and sixth round rookie Devin Neal just went onto injured reserve so Audric Estimé and Evan Hull should handle the workload on Sunday. The pair have just 104 rushing yards between them on 47 carries this season.
Pass catchers
The Saints have some decent pass catching talent with wide receiver Chris Olave 104 yards away from his third thousand-yard season in four years. He also has a team-high six touchdown catches. In addition, tight end Juwan Johnson has 62 receptions.
With Brandin Cooks having been released and Rashid Shaheed traded at midseason, the Saints’ primary depth comes from youngster Devaughn Vele, who was acquired via trade in preseason. Vele has 25 receptions and his 11.7 yards per catch average actually leads the team.
Mason Tipton is also listed as a starter, although he has just seven catches on the year and missed practice time due to illness this week so he is listed as questionable. Kevin Austin Jr. and Dante Pettis round out the rotation but haven’t played much.
At tight end, Johnson is backed up by Foster Moreau and Jack Stoll, who contribute more as blockers than in the passing game. Zaire Mitchell-Paden is also on the roster but listed as questionable for Sunday.
Defensive Line
The Saints operate out of a 4-3 base with veteran Davon Godchaux and 2023 first round pick Bryan Bresee listed as the starters on the inside. They will also often line up in a five-man front.
The primary reserves inside include ex-Jet Nathan Shepherd, Jonathan Bullard and Jonah Williams. Shepherd has actually played more than Godchaux and leads the team with 11 quarterback hits but Bullard started on Sunday and Shepherd has been listed as questionable for this weekend.
Khristian Boyd and John Ridgeway III are also on the roster for interior depth but haven’t played much.
On the edge, Cameron Jordan and Chase Young are the starters, although Carl Granderson has been listed as a co-starter with Young. Jordan leads the team with 6.5 sacks, a half-sack ahead of Young. Chris Rumph II provides additional edge depth off the bench.
Linebackers
Another ex-Jet, Demario Davis, perhaps doesn’t make as many impact plays these days but he’s still a force against the run at the age of 36. He leads the Saints with 123 tackles.
Pete Werner is the other starter but doesn’t play a full-time role as the Saints will sometimes operate with just one linebacker on the field.
Fourth round rookie Danny Stutsman has typically been the third linebacker in base packages, while Isaiah Stalbird has seen some action but Jaylan Ford hasn’t featured on defense yet.
Defensive Backs
2024 second round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor are the starting cornerbacks, although both have given up seven touchdowns in coverage. In sub-packages, fourth round rookie Quincy Riley enters and Taylor reverts to the slot. The trio have had good on-ball production with six interceptions and 25 pass break-ups between them.
Isaac Yiadom began the season as a starter and was in the rotation until week four but hasn’t played since and the other backup corners – Michael Davis, Ugo Amadi and Rezjohn Wright have hardly played all season.
At safety, opening day starter Julian Blackmon has been on injured reserve since week one, so veteran Justin Reid has been starting alongside third round rookie Jonas Sanker.
The backups at safety – Jordan Howden and Terrell Burgess – have seen some action, with Howden having started on Sunday with Reid out. Howden had a key fumble return for a touchdown in the Saints’ only win in the first half of the season against the Giants.
Special Teams
The Saints’ punter is Kai Kroeger, an undrafted rookie who was initially with the Jets. His numbers so far this year have been underwhelming. One thing to watch is that the Saints haven’t run any fakes with him yet, despite him having a history of being good at them.
The Saints recently released Blake Grupe, who had been kicking for them, and replaced him with Irish International Pathway Player Charlie Smyth a few weeks ago. Smyth has already made an impact with a game winner, a 56-yard field goal and a successful onside kick.
Pettis has taken over as the punt returner since the Shaheed trade and is also an option as a kick returner along with the likes of Hull and Tipton, who had the team’s longest return so far this year with a 75-yarder.
Yiadom is the team’s best gunner, with Davis usually on the other side. Stutsman, Stalbird and Rumph have been productive in kick coverage but the Saints gave up a punt return touchdown to the Seahawks.
