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The New Orleans Saints entered the next stage of offseason workouts with the start of OTAs on Tuesday. Over the course of four weeks, they’re scheduled to have a total of 15 full-team practice sessions during OTAs and minicamp.

The media will have access to eight of those sessions, starting with Thursday’s OTA practice. Click here for a breakdown of the early camp battles I’m most interested in watching on offense.

Here are the top battles to watch on defense:

1. Cornerback: This will be the most fascinating position to watch on the entire roster this summer. Keenan Lewis is entrenched as the No. 1 guy. Then there are a number of intriguing options battling for the other starting job and backup roles.

As I mentioned in Wednesday’s buzz video, I’m looking forward to seeing future Hall of Famer Champ Bailey in action – especially matching wits with a fellow super-duper-star like quarterback Drew Brees.

I’m also very curious to see how Patrick Robinson bounces back after missing all of last season with a knee injury. I think Corey White is being overlooked as a serious contender for the other starting job now that he has some experience under his belt. Likewise, I think second-year pro Rod Sweeting is being even more overlooked in this crowded field of contenders. And rookie Stanley Jean-Baptiste is an interesting project because of his rare size for the position.

Even the next tier of contenders is filled with some solid roster candidates (Trevin Wade, Terrence Frederick, A.J. Davis, Derrius Brooks). Here’s how I handicapped the field following the draft.

Read more: Top New Orleans Saints camp battles: Defense - ESPN

The New Orleans Saints have entered the next stage of offseason workouts with the start of organized team activities (OTAs) on Tuesday. Over the next four weeks, they’re scheduled to have a total of 15 full-team practice sessions during OTAs and minicamp.

The media will have access to eight of those sessions, starting with Thursday’s OTA practice. Here’s a breakdown of the early camp battles I’m most interested in watching on offense:

1. Fourth/fifth wide receivers: This might not be the most important camp battle on offense. But it’s the most jam-packed with bona fide candidates. And it’s always one of the most compelling position groups to watch at this time of year when players aren’t in pads or doing any live-contact drills yet.

Marques Colston, Kenny Stills and Brandin Cooks are all locked into the roster (though we unfortunately won’t get to see Cooks in action until mid-June because of NFL rules regarding rookies whose colleges are still in session).

That leaves Robert Meachem, Nick Toon, Joe Morgan, Andy Tanner, Brandon Coleman and others fighting for two to three roster spots. I broke down the battle at length recently, when I gave a slight edge to Toon for the fourth spot.

Read more: Top New Orleans Saints camp battles: Offense - ESPN

K Major

I hope and pray Toon had a good off season of conditioning and understanding of his WR route tree. He could be the odd man out if he doesn't get it together.

|Mitch|

I kind of hope Brandon Coleman makes the team; with his size and speed could get nasty with he and Graham on the field at the same time...

Rugby Saint II

I like the potential from Coleman and don't think he would make it past waivers. So if he looks good early he has a good shot.

hagan714

Now the real question is was it QB play that really hurt him or was it the mental laps that made the head lines. if 60% is QB play he has a solid shot

hagan714

5. Nose tackle: This is only mildly interesting since I figure veteran Brodrick Bunkley and second-year pro John Jenkins will split snaps pretty equally this year at a position where the Saints like to rotate players and keep them fresh. But it will be noteworthy to see if Jenkins pushes Bunkley enough to become “1A” in that rotation this summer.

mildly interesting???? to be honest we need a DE/DT to step up and add depth to group. just watch the philli game. the front three rotation was freaking gassed. we need to improve the depth. be it from NT itself or DE this is an area the saints must get straightened out. you can not keep top top DL on the field this long. they need their rest.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

hagan714

offense? wr sure center also. RB is an area of concern. we need a back to compete with PT. right now i do not see it. who will step up and do the dirty and do it well?

triman

Get a six pack going to be a war!!!!

NonieT

Anyone know how many roster spots the Saints have open?

exile

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