SmashMouth

The New Orleans Saints added some talent last week during the NFL draft and when signing undrafted rookies. But how much has the team’s depth chart actually changed?

We’ll have to wait until training camp and the preseason to see how and where the rookies fit in. Yet for now it seems most of them will have a hard time earning immediate playing time.



Let’s look at a breakdown by position and some of the key position battles coming up this summer. The roster could change a bit by the time training camp begins, but here’s how it looks now:

Rookies underlined. Undrafted players added via sources and reports.

Quarterback

Drew Brees
Teddy Bridgewater
Taysom Hill
J.T. Barrett
Running back

Alvin Kamara
Latavius Murray
Dwayne Washington
Martez Carter
Devine Ozigbo
Darnell Holland
Key position battle: The No. 3 running back job behind Kamara and Murray should be hotly contested. Washington will have the edge because of his experience and special teams ability, but undrafted running backs have found a way onto the roster in the past.

Fullback

Zach Line
Tight end

Jared Cook
Josh Hill
Dan Arnold
Garrett Griffin
Alizé Mack
Jake Powell
Key position battle: Cook’s arrival pushed everyone down the depth chart, and now there will be heavy competition for No. 3 tight end. Arnold and Griffin have some experience, and Mack and Powell will try to unseat them.

Wide receiver 1

Michael Thomas
Cameron Meredith
Keith Kirkwood
Simmie Cobbs
Travin Dural
Emmanuel Butler
Wide receiver 2

Ted Ginn Jr.
Tre’Quan Smith
Austin Carr
Deonte Harris
Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Key position battle: Every wide receiver role behind Thomas is open. The Saints already have plenty of experience here, which is why they didn’t aggressively pursue another receiver in the offseason. Ginn versus Smith and Meredith versus Kirkwood will likely be the top battles, but the rookies have a chance to make it.

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