We're fast approaching the final New Orleans Saints preseason game, and the roster cuts that will follow it. So which players are truly locks to make the team? And who has a real shot at winning one of the final places on the 53-man roster? To find out, we surveyed seven different 53-man roster projections to find out which players are unanimous picks to make the team, who are consensus choices on the roster bubble, and those dark horses that aren't out of it yet. Our sources included:
- Saints Wire
- The Times-Picayune | The Advocate
- ESPN
- Who Dat Dish
- Saints Block Party
- On SI
- ClutchPoints
Altogether, we found 42 unanimous roster locks, seven players who were consensus picks (chosen five or six times), and ten more on the bubble (picked two, three, or four times). Eight more players had one appearance each. Let's dig in, position by position, before
the NFL roster cuts deadline hits on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. CT:
Quarterback
- Roster lock: Tyler Shough
- On the bubble: Spencer Rattler, Zach Wilson
- Dark horse: N/A
Zach Wilson has an outside shot at dethroning Spencer Rattler as the backup quarterback, but only if another team trades for Ratter. Wilson kept it close long enough for the Saints to give him a shot as the QB2 in their second preseason game and he did so poorly he's been stuck on the third-string offense ever since. There isn't a good reason for rostering Wilson if Rattler is on the team. He can always return to the practice squad, but that feels like a better role for Hunter Dekkers.
Running back
- Roster locks: Travis Etienne Jr., Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Audirc Estime
- On the bubble: N/A
- Dark horse: Zamir White, Devin Neal
The top four appear to be set; Travis Etienne Jr. and Kendre Miller are both expected to be healthy when the regular season starts, and Audric Estime is getting back up to speed after suffering an ankle injury in the first preseason game. Alvin Kamara is probably going to miss the September games while dealing with an MCL sprain. Right now, the guys with the best shot at convincing the Saints to roster five running backs while Kamara heals up are Zamir White and CJ Donaldson. Devin Neal's untimely hamstring injury could land him on injured reserve to start the season.
Wide receiver
- Roster locks: Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, Bryce Lance, Barion Brown
- On the bubble: Bub Means
- Dark horses: Trey Palmer, Kevin Austin Jr.
It's widely expected that Jordyn Tyson will start his rookie year on injured reserve, so four wideouts are seen as roster locks: Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, Bryce Lance, and Barion Brown. Bub Means made the cut in six of the seven projections we checked in with and he would be a good pick to round out the group if Brown is going to be the primary punt returner on special teams. Trey Palmer had a shot but a recent injury is slowing him down. Ronnie Bell and Kevin Austin Jr. may be returning to the practice squad.
Tight end
- Roster locks: Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, Oscar Delp
- On the bubble: N/A
- Dark horses: N/A
You really hate this for Moliki Matavao. He looked like a smart choice for the fourth tight end spot until he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second preseason game. Without him, the Saints probably ride it out with just three tight ends: Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, and Oscar Delp. Delp has been dealing with a hamstring injury so don't be surprised if someone like Cody Hardy ends up on the practice squad and gets called up for Week 1 if Delp isn't able to play so soon.
Offensive line
- Roster locks: Kelvin Banks Jr. (tackle), David Edwards (tackle), Erik McCoy (center), Cesar Ruiz (guard), Taliese Fuaga (tackle), Asim Richards (tacklle), William Sherman (center/guard)
- On the bubble: Jeremiah Wright (guard), Easton Kilty (guard), Torricelli Simpkins III (center)
- Dark horses: Xavier Truss (guard/tackle)
The top seven spots are locked up between the five starters (from left to right: Kelvin Banks Jr., David Edwards, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, and Taliese Fuaga) with Asim Richards as the swing tackle and William Sherman replacing Torricelli Simpkins III as McCoy's backup at center. Jeremiah Wright is a consensus pick after being left off of one projection, but the Saints aren't cutting a fourth-round pick who's been the starting right guard at practice with Ruiz sidelined by an injury since Aug. 19. Simpkins was demoted even before he suffered a concussion that's kept him out of practice but he could still make the team. It may come down to him and Easton Kilty, who has done really well at both guard spots this summer. Xavier Truss, a young guard with lots of college experience at tackle, is another guy on the bubble.
Special teams
- Roster locks: Zach Wood (snapper), Ryan Wright (punter)
- On the bubble: Daniel Carslon (kicker)
- Dark horses: Tanner Brown (kicker), Charlie Smyth (kicker)
Daniel Carslon hasn't run away with the kicking competition after signing early this week, but he's still the favorite to win the job by Sunday night. If not him, Tanner Brown seems to have an edge on Charlie Smyth. But if it's still this close that means no one guy has separated himself from a bad group. The Saints could start making trade calls if they aren't sold on any available free agents.
Edge rushers
- Roster locks: Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Cameron Jordan, Anfernee Jennings
- On the bubble: Tyree Wilson
- Dark horses: N/A
We've got four stone-cold roster locks here, and a fifth consensus pick in Tyree Wilson (he didn't make the cut on my projection, but he did get in with the six others). We just haven't seen anything from Wilson since the Saints traded for him despite being a full participant in every practice session. He only saw 11 snaps in a single preseason game. Maybe he makes the cut anyway. Chase Young, Carl Granderson, and Anfernee Jennings figure to play a lot of snaps with Cameron Jordan's availability in doubt. He hasn't practiced since Aug. 6 due to an injury.
Defensive line
- Roster locks: Vernon Broughton, Nathan Shepherd, Davon Godchaux, Christen Miller
- On the bubble: John Ridgeway III
- Dark horses: Khristian Boyd
The top four are set between Vernon Broughton, Nathan Shepherd, Davon Godchaux, and Christen Miller, but the rookie-second round pick has struggled to stay on the field while dealing with a persistent shoulder injury. John Ridgeway III is on the bubble and could start the season on injured reserve; he's only had one full day of practice since Aug. 9. Khristian Boyd is a long shot despite having some good moments in the preseason. This is a thin group.
Linebacker
- Roster locks: Kaden Elliss, Pete Werner, Danny Stutsman, Jaylan Ford, Isaiah Stalbird
- On the bubble: N/A
- Dark horses: Chris Rumph II
It looks like the Saints are only going to roster five off-ball linebackers this year between Kaden Elliss, Pete Werner, Danny Stutsman, Jaylan Ford, and Isaiah Stalbird. That may feel light but teams just don't run heavy personnel like they used to. Chris Rumph II is an injured reserve candidate after an ankle issue sidelined him back on Aug. 6, but he could also end up on the practice squad. So could Jackson Sirmon, who has led the team in special teams snaps this preseason.
Safety
- Roster locks: Justin Reid, Julian Blackmon, Jonas Sanker
- On the bubble: Terrell Burgess, Jordan Howden
- Dark horse: Lorenzo Styles Jr., Elliott Davison
There's room for shakeup here; outside of Justin Reid, Julian Blackmon, and Jonas Sanker, no other safeties were picked in all seven projections. Terrell Burgess and Jordan Howden were both chosen six times, so it could be an either-or situation, or maybe they both get in. The dark horse is Lorenzo Styles Jr. He's been exceptional on special teams and was drafted for that role covering punts and kickoffs. If the Saints aren't confident he clears waivers, would they choose him and try to sneak Burgess or Howden on the practice squad?
Cornerback
- Roster locks: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley, Martin Emerson Jr., Jayden Price
- On the bubble: N/A
- Dark horses: TJ Hall Jr., Mike Reid
This might be the thinnest group on the roster after kicker. Kool-Aid McKinstry is locked in to start, and we know that Quincy Riley, Martin Emerson Jr., and Jayden Price will make the team. The problem is that Riley has missed five consecutive practices after getting hurt on Aug. 18, Emerson was picked on in the second preseason game, and Price may be limited to backing up Sanker in the slot. Guys like Dalys Beanum, Mike Reid, David Long Jr. and Michael Davis are competing with seventh-round rookie TJ Hall Jr. but none of them give you confidence to start in a pinch.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Stone-cold locks, dark horses, and Saints players on the roster bubble
