Predicting Saints' initial 53-player roster: WRs are tricky, LBs fighting injuries and more
 

With three preseason games in the books, the New Orleans Saints set their sights on Thursday night’s final exhibition game against the Miami Dolphins before turning attention to the business side of football.

Teams around the league have until 3 p.m. Saturday to make personnel moves to go from 90 players to the initial 53-player roster for the regular season.

For Saints coach Sean Payton, the decisions outside of the obvious are never easy.

“It's always probably one of the hardest parts of the job,” Payton said last week on the final day of training camp. “I've been in their shoes probably at least three or four different times, been released when I was younger.

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QUARTERBACKS (3): Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, Taysom Hill

SNAPSHOT: This position is pretty cut and dry and one of the easiest groups to project on the roster. It wouldn’t surprise if the Saints added a signal-caller to the practice squad.

RUNNING BACKS (3): Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, Dwayne Washington

SNAPSHOT: Kamara and Murray, who replaces Mark Ingram, are essentially locks and provide New Orleans the tandem to remain one of the NFL’s top 10 rushing units. Washington suffered a concussion in the third preseason game against the New York Jets but has time to get healthy before the start of the regular season. Rookie Devine Ozigbo is a prime candidate for the practice squad.

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Re: Predicting Saints' initial 53-player roster: WRs are tricky, LBs fighting injuries and more
 

A big pass catching RB is going to fetch a good price at the stockyard. I doubt Ozigbo goes on the PS. Boston Scott was smaller so it made sense. I think we keep him, run the three headed attack like we did with AP and try to trade Latavius if he is not delivering the goods. Latavius did look good in PS but something about him, I think he is going to piss Payton off. Guy can't stay put on a team for some reason.

Re: Predicting Saints' initial 53-player roster: WRs are tricky, LBs fighting injuries and more
 

I believe Saquon Hampton make the 53 roster and Ken Crawley might be a possible trade. I don't think J.T. Gray will blindside me this time and make the roster

Re: Predicting Saints' initial 53-player roster: WRs are tricky, LBs fighting injuries and more
 

Smith, Thomas, Ginn, Butler, Carr, Kirkwood and Gray.

Re: Predicting Saints' initial 53-player roster: WRs are tricky, LBs fighting injuries and more
 

If I had a choice I'd take AJ Derby over Arnold at TE.

He seems a lot more fluid than Dan and blocks better.

Re: Predicting Saints' initial 53-player roster: WRs are tricky, LBs fighting injuries and more
 

Derby does look good. He is at the age where it clicks for TE's. He should move past Arnold easily, especially being the better blocker which is what we mainly need from him.

Re: Predicting Saints' initial 53-player roster: WRs are tricky, LBs fighting injuries and more
 

Ozigbo SHOULD be the #2 RB. He makes the 53. It reminds me of way back when PT out played all the other RB's on the roster and couldn't see the field. He's better than Murray with an upside. If the Saints don't keep Harris, I could see Ozigbo returning kickoffs the same way PT did.

Re: Predicting Saints' initial 53-player roster: WRs are tricky, LBs fighting injuries and more
 

Where’s Latavius Murray been? Didn’t show up to dress rehearsal and even Rankins is back at practice.

Hmm? Just saying

Re: Predicting Saints' initial 53-player roster: WRs are tricky, LBs fighting injuries and more
 

"Icing up" :bng:. He'll be ready to go vs Texans.

Per Luke Johnson tweet, Latavius Murray aka "Mr. Hurt" was full practice on yesterday :bng:.

Say it with me ... C h a m p i o n s h i p !

Re: Predicting Saints' initial 53-player roster: WRs are tricky, LBs fighting injuries and more
 

OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, Andrus Peat, Larry Warford, Erik McCoy, Nick Easton, Cameron Tom, Will Clapp

Solid starting group however the depth is debatable.

I think the Saints draft another tackle in 2020.