Training camps are kicking off all around the NFL, and some New Orleans Saints
rookies have more opportunity to make a splash than others. From dark horses to make the roster to projected starters, we're ranking the entire rookie class by their potential impact. Being drafted early, late, or not at all doesn't necessarily decide their fate, but it does reflect what the team is expecting out of eacch prospect.DT Jay'Viar Suggs
This is no disrespect to Suggs, but he's facing a tough road to make the team. He's one of several undrafted free agents at defensive tackle and the Saints are bringing back last year's depth chart mostly intact. Suggs didn't receive the least guaranteed money in his contract out of his peers but he might have the smallest body of work to help
his case right now.
WR Brock Rechsteiner
Rechsteiner is a great story as a rookie free agent who didn't even get a contract offer until after he tried out at minicamp (and he has a fanbase built-in as the son of pro wrestling legend Scott Steiner). He's a good athlete, too. But he was mainly used as a blocker at Jacksonville State and it isn't clear if he has the skills as a receiver to compete with guys on the hands team this summer.
DT Keeshawn Silver
Silver may have a higher athletic baseline than Suggs, and the Saints guaranteed him nearly twice as much money to sign. That suggest higher expectations and more potential to try and reach. We'll see if he can get there after transferring a couple of times at the college level in search of the right fit.
RB CJ Donaldson
We're all focused on the three-horse race between Devin Neal, Audric Estime, and Kendre Miller, but maybe it's another running back who leaps out in front. Donaldson was an effective short-yardage rusher for the Buckeyes and he has real chops in the passing game (he was a wide receiver coming out of high school). He has a versatile skill set in a unique frame, outweighing most of the Saints' other tailbacks by 15 or more pounds.
TE Cody Hardy
The top three tight end spots appear to be set, and if the Saints do roster a fourth, it would probably be Moliki Matavao (last year's seventh-round pick who spent the season on the practice squad). But don't rule out Hardy just yet. He was a valuable piece of the NC State offense as a blocking tight end, and he just might carve out a niche for himself.
OT Alan Herron
How many offensive linemen will the Saints roster this year? Herron has some intriguing physical tools, but he's only been playing the game since his junior year of high school and was just a two-year starter at Maryland. He's got a lot of room to grow.
OT Alex Wollschlaeger
Herron is right there with Wollschclaeger, but the Saints guaranteed Wollschlaeger a little more money and his greater experience as a multi-year starter gives him an edge. He started three years at right tackle for Bowling Green before manning the same spot at Kentucky last season. Don't be shocked if he pushes a veteran backup like Asim Richards this summer.
CB TJ Hall
It's tough to make the team as a seventh-round pick, but the Saints chose to draft Hall for a good reason. He fits the scheme Brandon Staley wants to run like a glove. He's just a bit llimited athleticcally, and the team might already have enough corners between Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quinccy Riley, Isaac Yiadom, and Martin Emerson Jr.
S Lorenzo Styles Jr.
Styles was drafted for his skills on special teams, and hell have to do a lot of running on punts and kickoffs to make it onto our screens come September. Even if there isn't much of a role for him defensively, he can get active on game days and make some tackles in the third phase.
OL Jeremiah Wright
Wright's potential is high, given his movement skills and the tenacity he plays with. The problem is whether he can refine the raw ability into clean technique and push a struggling veteran like Cesar Ruiz at right guard. Don't look for him to get in the starting lineup (yet), but if Wright isn't starting it's tough to see him even being active on game days over mmore-versatile backups.
EDGE Michael Heldman
It's going to be tough for Heldman to set himself apart with Tyree Wilson, Anfernee Jennings, and Chris Rumph II all in the mix for that final spot in the edge rusher rotation. That's with Fadil Diggs and Myles Cole returning from last season's practice squad, too. He needs to show the same burst and power he played with at Central Michigan, and if he can, the Saints might have found another diamond in the rough.
DT Zxavian Harris
Harris is an interesting player. Leverage can be an issue when you stand over 6-foot-7, but he was really productive and put up strong enough tape to be drafted. Instead, he signed with the Saints as a rookie free agent due to to off-field concerns (March foot surgery and two arrests in college). If he's locked in, focus, and receptive to coaching, he could end up in the rotation like Shy Tuttle did back in 2019.
WR Bryce Lance
Realistically, the highest Lance could climb is probably fourth on the depth chart -- behind surefire starters Chris Olave, Jordyn Tyson, and Devaughn Vele but ahead of guys returning from the practice squad or who arrived on minimum deals this offseason. Still, his experience attacking defenses over the top could help him out.
WR/KR Barion Brown
He may have been a sixth-round pick, but if Brown can win the competition to field punts and kickoffs, fans could see him every Sunday. Last season the Saints defense forced 54 punts in 17 games (more than three per game), and he'll have return opportunities on kickoffs, too. He's got a real chance of running away with this job after scoring six kick return touchdowns in college.
DT Christen Miller
What does a big year look like for Miller? He doesn't play a position known for filling up the box score, but if he's starting games and recording 30-plus snaps per game, it'll be tough to overlook him. You'll know he's making an impact by seeing the Saints run defense start to take over games and stifle opposing rushing attacks.
TE Oscar Delp
Delp is buried behind Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant on the depth chart, but he could earn a role in certain personnel packages right away. Don't be shocked if he gets on the field for play action passes and tight end-heavy sets to get him more opportunities in the passing game. His athletic ability could create mismatches with opposing defenses.
WR Jordyn Tyson
Expectations are high for Tyson; being drafted where he did will do that. If he can meet his potential, he may not just join Chris Olave Michael Thomas, and Marques Colston as the only rookies to put up 1,000-yard seasons in their NFL debut. He could break the team's rookie receiving record (1,137). He just needs to stay healthy.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Ranking every New Orleans Saints rookie by potential impact
