SmashMouth

Projecting the 2018 New Orleans Saints 53-man roster heading into training camp might appear simple.
The starting lineup could be tinkered a touch, but nothing unexpected. Depth at a few positions should make life a tad bit easier for the coaching staff. But you never know if an injury might derail plans or if someone blows the doors off training camp and the preseason.
Which is why I’m certain my weekly training camp roster projections will take some twists and turns leading up to Week 1.



Here’s a look at my Saints 53-man roster projections heading into the start of training camp Thursday:

Quarterback (3)
Drew Brees, Tom Savage, Taysom Hill
Analysis: This may seem like an easy battle to project. I’d argue the Saints may ponder only keeping two quarterbacks on the roster. We all know Brees isn’t going anywhere. The team has invested plenty of time with Hill. Savage will have to win the backup job in order to stay on the roster. Savage is on a one-year deal, but carries plenty of NFL snaps with him to New Orleans. Hill vs. Savage will be an interesting camp battle. J.T. Barrett seems like a perfect practice squad candidate.

Running back (5)
Alvin Kamara, Terrance West, Boston Scott, Zach Line, Trey Edmunds
*Mark Ingram
Analysis: All of my projections throughout training camp will include Ingram with the asterisk given his four-game suspension. The only slam dunks at this position as of now are Kamara, Scott and Line. Candidates like West, Edmunds, Jonathan Williams and freshly signed Shane Vereen will tussle over two roster spots. West seems like a better fill-in for Ingram than anyone else. I’m curious to watch Vereen within the Saints offense. The former Patriots and Giants tailback seems like an insurance policy for Kamara.

Wide receiver (6)
Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr., Cameron Meredith, Tre’Quan Smith, Tommylee Lewis, Brandon Coleman
Analysis: The back end of the roster spots at wideout will be one of the most intriguing decisions of the offseason. I’m playing it safe for now by placing Lewis and Coleman on the roster heading into camp. I think Lewis is safer than Coleman given Lewis’ ability in the return game. Receivers returning to the system for a second year like Austin Carr and Travin Dural will make a push for the roster. The Saints know what they have in Coleman. If someone beats him out, so be it.

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