Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

For the fifth consecutive offseason, we're ranking the New Orleans Saints' top players; this year it'll be their top 20. We'll publish a new player each weekday as we inch closer to training camp.

Seven players from last year's list are no longer with the Saints: No. 9 Marques Colston, No. 10 Jahri Evans, No. 12 Junior Galette, No. 14 Brandon Browner, No. 15 Akiem Hicks, No. 18 Khiry Robinson, No. 20 David Hawthorne. So expect new faces aplenty across the board.

Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 roster: No. 20 Thomas Morstead | NOLA.com

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Morstead, 20?!? Really?!?

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Wow really 20th.

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Can think of twenty Saints better than Hightower...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

If your punter is the 20th best player on your team, you have a few roster problems.

We could let Drew punt and I don't think it would cost us a single game all season.

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Better than Morstead...
Drew
Armstead
Jordan
Cooks
Ingram
Lewis
Breaux
Unger
Vaccaro
Byrd
Robertson
Fleener
Strief
Snead
Hoomanawanui
Fairley
Anthony
Laurinaitus
Kikaha
Swann
Williams
Jenkins
Bell
Rankins
Thomas

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Lets hope that doesn't happen because I think you are wrong. :help:

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Oh boy...Ellerbe plays in only six games and is our No. 18 best player? Larry, say it isn't so...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Yeah, thats odd JP, however if he could play all 16 games (yeah yeah... If, If, If) he'd probably be in out top 10, easily.

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Said the same thing in the other thread, IF Ellerbe could stay healthy, he might be an All-Pro...

Ireland can definitely spot the defensive talent...

But I think they cut ties as early as when training camp breaks if he starts breaking down again...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

he is starting to show his age and minor injuries are start to show way to often. then there is that contract.

Other than that he is fab

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

WTF, based on, what, salary cap ramifications?!?

Larry, Larry, Larry...is this some kind of sick theme?!?

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Field position is everything folks!!! Our punter places the ball where we need him too. That is an invaluable asset!!! He is one of Payton's chess pieces and he does a damn fine job!!! He is a little expensive but the price is right for what he gets done.

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

LOL I hear you JP but ....

IF JB can stay healthy, that re vamped D line gets a good push/bull rush ...let him freelance & anticipate throws.

Byrd didn't turn into a bad football player once he got to New Orleans.

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

I hope we're not holding our breath for long...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Hoping this ranking improves with healthy seasons during his Saints tour of duty; Larry, this feels about right, for now...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Larry, I'd had Laurinaitis ahead, but I could see challenging the big fella with this ranking...

http://image.nola.com/home/nola-medi...424-mmmain.jpg

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

But will he be the starting right tackle by the end of training camp, beginning of season?


http://image.nola.com/home/nola-medi...ca064b076e.jpg

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Larry is really feeling it for DT Sheldon Rankins, even before he takes a snap...

http://image.nola.com/home/nola-medi...ab1cf29ab7.jpg

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Larry has got Snead a little higher than I'd have 'em, nonetheless, it's all good for hard work Snead has put into his game...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

And with this selection, Holder reveals himself to be an optimist, bad haircut and all...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

I think Mr. Fleener will ball out of his mind in New Orleans. Drew Brees went on record saying ... "watching Coby on film, he has the ability to separate. He's always open".

With defenses locking in on Cooks & Sneed, Coby could be a deadly weapon.

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Larry seems to think the Doctor and Trainers are gonna earn their checks this year; Westbank played less than six games last year...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Scottie Patton Head Athletic Trainer
Beau Lowery Director of Rehabilitation
Kevin Mangum Assistant Athletic Trainer
Ben Stollberg Assistant Athletic Trainer
Jamie Meeks
Director of Sports Nutrition
Dr. John Amoss Team Physician
Dr. Deryk Jones Team Orthopedist
Dr. Misty Suri Team Orthopedist

I posted this for those who may be interested to know the names of Saints Doctors & training staff.

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Okay, last year's first round pick is in the Holder's Top 10...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

So far...

No. 20 P Thomas Morstead
No. 19 RB Tim Hightower
No. 18 LB Dannell Ellerbe
No. 17 FS Jairus Byrd
No. 16 LB James Laurinaitis
No. 15 DT Nick Fairley
No. 14 RT Zach Strief
No. 13 DT Sheldon Rankins
No. 12 WR Willie Snead
No. 11 TE Coby Fleener
No. 10 CB Keenan Lewis
No. 09 LB Stephone Anthony

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Okay, so that leaves Drew Brees, Terron Armstead, Cam Jordan, Brandin Cooks, Delvin Breaux, Max Unger, Kenny Vaccaro, Mark Ingram, so that's eight unless Peat, Lelito or Spiller surprise...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

And so the final run of the top of Holder's crop and in his Rookie Contract Option Year...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Ingram can't even crack Holder's Top 5 for the Saints, ouch...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

#7 is fair.

If Saints can improve the GUARD play, his production will certainly go up. And so does his Saints ranking ;).

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Now this is one that Holder is 100% right on the money...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Breaux may have had the greatest tryout performance in NFL history and Holder has him already at No. 5 - hoping he can maintain this level of excellence...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

No. 08 SS Kenny Vaccaro
No. 07 RB Mark Ingram
No. 06 Max Unger
No. 05 Delvin Breaux

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Holder's ranking of Cooks is more of a primer for the expectations of the upcoming season...

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Leads the league in passing, but is still at least Top 10 - smh...

Re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

Still no updates from Larry Holder...

you can tweet him @Larry Holder and tell him to quit jamming us up like Del Breaux...

Re: Ranking the New Orleans Saints' 2016 Roster (Updated Daily)
 

The New Orleans Saints officially signed OT Tony Hills to a contract and waived OT Ryker Mathews with an injury designation.

Hills, 31, is a former fourth-round pick of the Steelers back in 2008. He spent two years in Pittsburgh before brief stops with several teams including: the Broncos, Colts, Bills, Raiders, Dolphins and Cowboys.

The Panthers signed him to a contract back in July of last year to bolster their offensive tackle depth for training camp. However, he was among their final roster cuts before joining the Ravens’ practice squad at the start of the 2015 season.

New Orleans signed him to a contract in October and Hills finished out the year with the Saints.

In 2015, Hills appeared in eight games.