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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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SmashMouth

QB Savage gets cut IMHO.

Holder makes a fair assessment this early pre-trining camp.

K Major

Woodrow Hamilton IV ? ... no Muhammad?

This should be interesting.

voodooido

Really pj does not make the team. No way he can contribute. Pure trash

Rugby Saint II

It looks like a good list that I might change a few players on the O-line, RB and CB. It's early and is a fair assessment of the talent we've put together.

jeanpierre

Larry Holder never ceases to amaze us for his inability to grasp what's going on despite rare access to this team...

And with the recent acquisitions, there are several tells with regard to the roster...

Saints are likely going two quarterbacks and I wouldn't count out Tom Savage and being the other guy and here's why...

Bringing in two veteran, capable wide receivers now takes the doubt out from evaluation process when watching the passing film...

The reserve quarterbacks results can no longer be hung on green wide receivers - it's about timing in the NFL passing game...

Also, Edmunds is ugly to watch as a RB, and that's why the team is giving him looks at FB; translation, Edmunds vs Zach Line, not both...

And unless Kirkwood or some other kid really shows out in the PreSeason, we're not keeping six (6) wide receivers AND four (4) tight ends.

In fact, five (5) WRs and three (3) Tight Ends seems more plausible...

With the new kickoff rules, I'd expect to keep six RBs, especially with the lately-signed veterans and possibly a seventh LBer with recent injury history...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...