53 Man Projections
 

Haven’t been able to keep up much with what’s going on in camp. Most of my sports info on the radio around where I am is Texas Rangers and Dallas cowboys. Was wondering what some of your thoughts are on early 53 man projections? Any surprises so far who may make it?

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It’s super early but give me RB Mims over TCU Kendre Miller.

AVAILABILITY is everything at this level.

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True Dat ... too soon to cut him at this point in his career. See the former Alabama Heisman winner as an example.

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How about top 6 receivers so far. From what I can gather with information I have heard it’s:
Olave
shaheed
Wilson
St. brown
Tipton
?

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Haener has his doctors appointment on 8/1, this could have a significant impact at the QB position. If Haener has to miss time, he could start the season on some type of reserve list. This could open the door for Peterman to make the team if Rattler isn't ready to assume the primary backup job, or perhaps another veteran is brought in.

I think the chances of Penning making the final 53 is about 50/50. For Penning I think he has to win the starting job or will be released or traded. I don't think the Saints will try him at guard.

As for Kendre Miller, I don't think he would be released, but things could get interesting with him if he doesn't get over the injury funk real quick.

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If Perry is healthy, it's him.

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I dont think Dennis Allen is guaranteed to make it through the season if Peterman sees the field with Penning on his not-blind side

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I have Olave, Shaheed, Wilson, Tipton, AT Perry & Bub Means. Having 4.33 speed helps Tipton a bit with special teams.

Triplett and Underhill seem to think the WR group is thin.

It's only week one of camp though.

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The season, and life as we know it, ends with a catastrophic asteroid strike if Peterman sees the field during the season.

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-Notable moves.
-P. Turner gets cut or goes to IR.
-Means gets cut or goes to IR.
-Ford gets cut or goes to IR.
-Ezirim gets cut.

-Four draft picks make the team. One starter.
-Three UDFA's to make the team. Hergel, Holker, and Tipton.

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Weird.... :beatnik:

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Even after the asteroid, Dennis Allen will still be here.

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QB: Carr | Rattler | Haener
RB: Kamara | Williams | Miller | Mims
FB: Prentice
WR: Olave | Shaheed | Wilson | Perry | Means | Tipton
TE: Johnson | Moreau | Holker
OT: Fuaga | Penning | Young | Udoh
OG: Ruiz | Patrick | Saldivieri
C: McCoy | Haynesworth
ATH: Hill

OFFENSE: 27

DE: Granderson | Jordan | Young | Turner | Foskey
DT: Saunders | Shepherd | Bresee | Boyd
OLB: Gay | Werner | Orji | Ford
MLB: Davis | Jackson
CB: Lattimore | Adebo | Taylor | McKinstry
FS: Mathieu | Harris
SS: Howden | Abram | Amadi

DEFENSE: 24

K: Grupe
P: Hedley

ST: 2

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Who's going to handle long snap duties? The Saints have always carried a dedicated long snapper. I think Zach Woods is a lock.

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I forgot about him. I suppose you drop Haynesworth since Ruiz can slide to C.

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Howden now in question. Maybe offseason shoulder surgery still lingering...

Also just learned that European players do not count against the 53 so keep an eye out for Charlie Smyth to hang on in case Grupe falters.

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Howden definitely headed to the bench.

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I think we look thin at WR too. Cedric Wilson looks like a solid #3. Bub Means is the invisible man. I like the flashes from Tipton that I've seen. AT Perry has been really quiet too. We still don't have a true possession receiver and we need one with AT developing slowly. I'm thinking we pick someone up after cuts or go ahead and invest in a trade for a vet.

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https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/depth-chart

The Saints posted their depth chart.

One interesting thing I noticed on the depth chart is that Taysom Hill is listed only as the #4 QB and is not on the depth chart at any other position including FB, TE, WR, etc. Yet, some other players are listed in two places. I wonder if this is by accident or is the new offensive regime do not have confidence in Hill. I think Hill's best position is receiver. I don't think he is worth $10 million but I would trust him to get open and make a play more than Davante Adams or Cooper Kupps brother.

This is also ironic because the spirit of Hill's contract was he gets $25 million if he is a QB and $10 million if he is a TE. Now he is only listed at QB so if everyone else goes down he is theoretically making bank. Maybe Trevor Penning has one fan in New Orleans?

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Time to get better at the TE position.

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Well, the draft or free agency was the time to get better at the TE position if we were going for 'win now' and thought that was the key position. Now is the time where we would be flying grandpa in for a last minute visit on short notice rates if we try to make a splash at TE, bad timing. We have who we have. If thats a problem, we will either have more money and draft picks to fix it next year, or hopefully new decision makers next year to fix it if we go all in this year on grandpas and still fail.

I was very happy that we did not draft Bowers. I think IF he is good at a pro level, he probably doesn't stay healthy.

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You are so wonderful! Keep it up, brother!

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I'd cut my losses with Penning & Lucas Patrick is no better.

Like Mike Triplett stated in his report ... "he's bad, really bad and cost the team a TD". Slow feet is allowing 2nd tier DE (see video) to run right past him.

This is year 3 with the experiment. In live competition, it's only going to get harder for him.

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My final 53 man prediction :bng:

--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------

QB (3) - Carr, Rattler, Haener
RB(4) - Kamara, Williams, Mims, and Miller (TCU Miller will go to IR & get another season to stay on ice in the medical tent :rolleyes: )
TE(3) - Johnson, Moreau, and Holker
FB(1) - Hill
WR(5) - Olave, Shaheed, Perry, Wilson, Means
OL (9) - Fuaga, Patrick, McCoy, Ruiz, Penning, Udoh, Hergel, Saldiveri, Young

Defense

DE (5) - Jordan, Granderson, Young, Turner, and Foskey*
DT (4) - Shepherd, Breese, Saunders, and Boyd
LB (6) - Davis, Werner, Gay, Orji, Jackson and Dowell (2 s/t tackles).
CB (5) - Lattimore, Adebo, Taylor, Kook-Aid, Payton
S (5) - Mathieu, Abram, Harris, Howden, and Gray

Special Teams (3) - Grupe, Hedley, and Wood

Saints need a better punter (32.3 net) .. < this gets you an L in close games.

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Nice projections. My only change would be at punter where I believe DA will pull a Payton and cut both punters and grab one in free agency much like SP did with kicker Lutz. We shall see but there’s bound to be a better punter being cut somewhere. I might also see the Saints keeping Morgan at WR.

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+1. Grab that dude from the niners who pinned the Saints inside their own 10 like about 15 times!

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Baldy's breakdown on Rattler ...
Has he already surpassed JH for the #2?

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How do you keep James Robinson out of the roster? He's shown way more than Mims, in my opinion.

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Quick re shuffle :cool:.

AK, Jamal, Mims & Robinson. I like the “fit” in this offense for Mims.

Put TCU Miller on the PS.

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I was never a fan of the Haener or Rattler picks. That being said, I think Rattler can be the better QB of the two.

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I’d keep St. Brown.

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Another element to the final roster is whether we could cut or trade anyone to save cap. Last year we did make one such cut with Roby. This year candidates would be Kamara, Lattimore (I don't totally understand his bonus structure, might work more as a trade only), Johnson, Turner, or Gray. I could see Turner being cut if we would rather spend the $2.4 million on oline depth. I dont think we would cut Gray but he is going to make $2.5 million and maybe thats a lot for special teams. Johnson could hypothetically be cut if the team did not trust his health or fit in the new offense.

Kamara and Lattimore could be traded if an offer came in. For Lattimore I don't think it would offer savings this year, but we probably can't pay Lattimore $20 million in 2025. The Cowboys and Vikings did let Elliott and Cook walk, so it would not be unprecedented if the Saints considered parting ways with Kamara, though none of his backups really made a case in preseason.

Another surprise cut in 2023 was Jaylon Smith, a veteran who impressed in camp but was older with injury baggage. Although Jaylon was new to the team, the same calculus of cutting an older veteran with injury baggage despite some preseason success could apply to an existing player this year who has been on the team longer.

Other logical players to cut won't work because they have guaranteed salaries: Williams, Moreau, Penning, Foskey, etc. However, one could be cut if the alternative for a minimum salary is straight up better.

I don't know if we will cut or trade any of these players, but I think its possible.

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We should be picking up a few players after cuts. Punter, RT, RB. Is Nacua not making the team after decent games?

Holker made the team.

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I guess I am a little more positive on the RB room than others. Although the Lafayette kid and mimms are young I would keep both and let them battle for supremacy in practice and on Special teams. My dark horse would be Robinson. He’s got experience and runs hard. I would keep all 5 along with Williams and Kamara and have Robinson battle with Williams for time. If 5 is too many can we unload Williams and his salary?

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Should the Saints have an advantage there?

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Coaches must have liked what they saw in Tipton at practice ...

He didn't play in any pre season games :bng:

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I don't even recognize names of most of the people cut, but for a few.