Football nears closer as the New Orleans Saints and the rest of the NFL open training camps. After an active offseason, the Saints expect to improve on their 6-11 finish from a year ago behind second-year coach Kellen Moore and quarterback Tyler Shough. New Orleans added several new pieces through free agency and the draft. Those pieces need to come together quickly, also causing several training camp battles to watch.
New Orleans has training camp practices and three preseason games to evaluate their roster. By Sunday, Aug.30, all NFL teams must trim down from their 90-man training camp roster to a 53-man active roster plus practice squad. With our position-by-position training camp previews complete, here's an early prediction at the Saints
53-man roster.
Quarterback (2)
- Tyler Shough
- Spencer Rattler
- Notable cuts: Zach Wilson, Hunter Dekkers
The 2026 success of the New Orleans Saints hinges on the success and development of Shough. Behind him, Rattler should be the clear favorite for the backup spot. Wilson, or even Dekkers, would need an incredibly strong performance to overtake him. The Saints will carry at least one quarterback on the practice squad as an emergency/3rd string on game days, with the veteran Wilson as the most logical candidate.
Running back (4)
- Travis Etienne Jr.
- Alvin Kamara
- Devin Neal
- Kendre Miller
- Notable cuts: Audric Estime, CJ Donaldson (rookie), Ty Chandler
Etienne was signed to be the Saints feature back, of that there is little doubt. There is a question to how Kamara will be used, how much Neal will develop, and the usual doubts whether Miller will stay healthy. If you're looking for a potential surprise, perhaps watch for a Kendre Miller trade to a running back-needy team. That would open the door for Estime, who otherwise is a good practice squad candidate along with the rugged undrafted rookie Donaldson.
Wide receiver (6)
- Chris Olave
- Jordyn Tyson (rookie)
- Devaughn Vele
- Ja'Lynn Polk
- Bryce Lance (rookie)
- Barion Brown (rookie)
- Notable cuts: Trey Palmer, Bub Means, Kevin Austin Jr., Mason Tipton (PUP list), Ronnie Brown, Brock Rechsteiner (rookie)
The top four at this spot seem likely, though there will be a heated battle between Vele and Polk for the third receiver. Don't overlook Palmer or Means pushing hard for a job. The explosive Lance is raw, but should be safe as a fourth round pick. Rechsteiner feels like a developmental project, while Brown has the inside track for the kick returner role. If the Saints were at all happy with Austin, Tipton, or Bell then they wouldn't have drafted three wideouts knowing they'd get Polk, Palmer, and Means back from injury.
Tight end (3)
- Juwan Johnson
- Noah Fant
- Oscar Delp (rookie)
- Notable cuts: Moliki Matavao, Treyton Welch, Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Cody Hardy (rookie-NFI)
This group looks very different from last season, but the only big question is whether the Saints roster a fourth tight end or limit themselves to three.
Offensive line (9)
- Kelvin Banks Jr.
- David Edwards
- Erik McCoy
- Cesar Ruiz
- Taliese Fuaga
- Dillon Radunz
- Jeremiah Wright (rookie)
- Asim Richards
- Torricelli Simpkins
- Notable cuts: Xavier Truss, Barry Wesley, Alan Herron (rookie), Alex Wollschlaeger (rookie), Easton Kilty, William Sherman
The starting five seems all but certain, with two strong tackles, the new piece in Edwards, injury concerns with McCoy, and the weak link in Ruiz. Radunz is a veteran starter who can play both guard spots. Simpkins is the probable backup center that can also play guard. Richards is the early favorite as the third tackle, but could be pushed by undrafted rookies Herron and Wollschlaeger. Truss, Wesley, and Kilty also shouldn't be ignored to push for roles.
Defensive line (6)
- Bryan Bresee
- Nathan Shepherd
- Christen Miller (rookie)
- Vernon Broughton
- John Ridgeway III
- Zxavian Harris (rookie-NFI)
Notable cuts: Davon Godchaux, Khristian Boyd, Jay'Viar Suggs (rookie), Keeshawn Silver (rookie-NFI), Myles ColeBroughton is a potential breakout candidate for the defense. Bresee and Shepherd are steady but must finish plays more consistently. Rookie second round choice Miller leads the group of additions expected to make the Saints more disruptive in the middle. Harris is my early favorite of undrafted rookies who could leave Godchaux or Boyd on the outside looking in. However, beginning training camp on the non-football injury list isn't a great start.
Edge rusher (6)
- Chase Young
- Cameron Jordan
- Carl Granderson
- Tyree Wilson
- Anfernee Jennings
- Chris Rumph II
- Notable cuts: Fadil Diggs, Michael Heldman (rookie)
Simply put, Chase Young is probably the biggest key to the New Orleans defense. Cam Jordan returns as an excellent complement as his legendary career winds down. Granderson is far better as a rotational piece than starter. Tyree Wilson is looking to jump-start his career as a high draft choice. Jennings played some off-ball linebacker in college and could get the edge over Rumph in a close battle because Rumph is a vested veteran with five NFL seasons and can therefore be re-signed immediately to the practice squad rather than having to clear waivers if necessary.
Linebacker (5)
- Kaden Elliss
- Danny Stutsman
- Pete Werner
- Isaiah Stalbird
- Jackson Sirmon
- Notable cuts: Jaylan Ford
Special teams contributions are the key to the back part of this depth chart, which could cause the Saints to keep an extra player here. If Stalbird can continue to make plays on defense as he did with limited chances in 2025 then he's an easy keeper. The guess here is that a more instinctive Sirmon, also son of Saints linebacker coach Peter Sirmon, gets the edge over Ford, who's failed to do anything defensively. Other obvious factors to watch is the competition between Stutsman and Werner along with the transition from Demario Davis to Kaden Elliss.
Cornerback (4)
- Kool-Aid McKinstry
- Quincy Riley
- Martin Emerson
- Isaac Yiadom
- Notable cuts: Jayden Price, TJ Hall (rookie), Rezjohn Wright, Dalys Beanum
The first three spots are fairly easy, though the success of the defense is paramount to their development and effectiveness. Yiadom could hold onto a fourth spot because of special teams but will be pushed by Wright, Hall, and Beanum.
Safety (5)
- Julian Blackmon
- Justin Reid
- Jonas Sanker
- Lorenzo Styles Jr. (rookie)
- Jordan Howden
- Notable cuts: Terrell Burgess, Elliott Davison
The only change from last year's group is swapping Burgess for Styles, who the Saints drafted in the sixth round.
Specialists (3)
- Tanner Brown (kicker)
- Ryan Wright (punter)
- Zach Wood (long snapper)
- Notable cuts: Charlie Smyth (kicker)
No drama at long snapper or punter. Wood returns as one of the league's most steady at the position, while Wright was a free agent target to finally stabilize that spot. The drama here is at kicker. My early bet goes to Brown after his spectacular range and accuracy in the UFL to hold off Smyth after his strong performance down the stretch of 2025. This is one of several close position battles to watch very closely for the Saints throughout preseason.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Projecting the Saints' 53-man roster prediction before training camp
