Projecting Saints starters
 

Now, that the NFL draft is over, let’s have some fun. Let’s start looking ahead to next season with team-by-team looks at what I project as the opening day lineups for each of the four NFC South teams.

Let’s start with the New Orleans Saints, who might not have any rookies open the season as starters because they didn’t have a draft pick until the third round. Also, let’s keep in mind that the Saints could be dealing with some suspensions from their bounty program. We won’t speculate on possible suspensions. We’ll just go with the depth chart as I see it now and I’ll throw in comments where there could be competition.

OFFENSE
•QB Drew Brees (assuming his contract situation gets straightened out)
•RB Pierre Thomas (you can also count Darren Sproles as a starter)
•FB Jed Collins
•WR Marques Colston
•WR Devery Henderson (Lance Moore will play as much as the starters)
•TE Jimmy Graham
•LT Jermon Bushrod
•LG Ben Grubbs
•C Brian de la Puente
•RG Jahri Evans
•RT Zach Strief
DEFENSE
•DE Will Smith
•DT Sedrick Ellis
•DT Brodrick Bunkley
•DE Cameron Jordan
•LB Curtis Lofton
•LB Jonathan Vilma (it remains to be seen if Vilma or Lofton will play in the middle)
•LB Scott Shanle
•CB Jabari Greer
•CB Patrick Robinson
•FS Malcolm Jenkins
•SS Roman Harper
SPECIALISTS
•K Garrett Hartley (assuming he wins training camp competition with John Kasay)
•P Thomas Morstead
•PR Darren Sproles
•KR Darren Sproles

Projecting Saints starters - NFC South Blog - ESPN

OCCUPY SCOTT SHANLE! Get him out of there.

Hawthorne will be a starter. Likely where you have Lofton lined up and put him in MLB. I can't see Vilma escaping the wrath of Goodell.

You think Drew makes the team this year?

I like to think that Scott Shanle tried the hardest to get those bounties and also failed the hardest. Maybe they will suspend him for a year...

I think Lofton will start and middle and Hawthorne will start also.. then toggle the remaining spot with whomever. Shanle is a Spagnuolo guy, so I guess that's the logical choice for a fill-in assumption.

I'm thinking Lofton in the middle, Hawthorne, and Martez Wilson will beat out Shanle for the start, assuming Vilma is suspended...

I LIKE 97% WHAT U HAVE UP THERE WHODAT. i really believe if he stays healthy a rookie could be returning kicks and punts. and sproles will be relieved of them duties. jmo

To many people are leaving Martez out of the equation. We are going to see a lot more of him this year!

What about Romeus ?? Supposedly he could have had an immediate impact had he not had injuries. This guy was supposed to have a great upside for where he was selected in the draft.

Vilma's suspension changes the dynamics. It will probably be Lofton, Hawthorne and Wilson. Not a bad looking group. Certainly improved.