Saints post-minicamp roster projection: New kickoff rule changes things

The spring NFL programs are over, so what's changed for the New Orleans Saints?

We'll dive in on exactly that in an updated 53-man roster projection as we look ahead to training camp, and one that will be heavily influenced by the new kickoff rule for some of the final roster spots.

Scroll below for a breakdown by position, plus players we expect to start on the PUP list and a 17-man practice squad.

See the initial projection here

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QUARTERBACK (3)
- Derek Carr
- Jake Haener
- Spencer Rattler

CUT
- Nathan Peterman

WHY : It's tough so project right now how the backup QB competition will shape up. It'll play out over the preseason and that's where the answer will come. That said, I am confident that regardless of how all this goes down, Spencer Rattler will be on the roster. You just don't draft a mid-round QB unless you're planning to give him time to develop. Right now I give Jake Haener the edge, though it seems a lot closer now than it did at the start of OTAs. I just don't think any team wants to rely on a rookie backup if there's a reasonable alternative. I can make the roster juggling work elsewhere while keeping three QBs.

Oh, and Derek Carr is the starting QB. I don't know who needs to hear that, but it's really not a discussion.

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RUNNING BACK/FULLBACK (4)
- Alvin Kamara
- Kendre Miller
- Jamaal Williams
- Taysom Hill

CUT
- Jordan Mims
- Jacob Kibodi
- Adam Prentice
- Zander Horvath

WHY: This is a tough one, mainly because I had to list Taysom Hill on the roster somewhere. To me, and based on what we've seen, calling him a fullback makes the most sense. If you're having him take over a lot of that role, I don't see the need to keep a true fullback on the initial 53. The more sensible option would seem to be signing one or both Horvath and Prentice to the practice squad and elevating them when needed early in the season. We'll see how things shape up in training camp, but I feel like Williams' leadership is going to win out in terms of a roster spot, particularly with the contract awkwardness around Kamara. This will be a position that sees significant turmoil if there's no amicable resolution there, but for now I'm staying put with the obvious picks.

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TIGHT END (3)
- Juwan Johnson
- Foster Moreau
- Dallin Holker

CUT
- Michael Jacobson
- Jesper Horsted
- Tommy Hudson

WHY : This is another position impacted by whatever you see Taysom Hill doing the most. Juwan Johnson's injury will open up some opportunity for Dallin Holker, and he just makes the most sense to fill out that room as a move tight end. Jacobson is intriguing, but he feels like a guy who will spend another season on the practice squad and could see an opportunity as the season wears on.

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WIDE RECEIVER (6)
- Chris Olave
- Rashid Shaheed
- A.T. Perry
- Cedrick Wilson
- Bub Means
- Equanimeous St. Brown

CUT
- Stanley Morgan
- Jermaine Jackson
- Mason Tipton

WHY : The top three on this list are easy, and I think you're keeping around Bub Means as a developmental guy. That leaves one or two more spots, and I'm handing them to Cedrick Wilson and Equanimeous St. Brown as the known commodities. I think it's possible, maybe even likely, that Stanley Morgan bumps one of those two guys out as a special teams ace, but he's been hurt throughout the spring program and I'll need to see him on the field before I project anything for him.

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OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
- Erik McCoy
- Cesar Ruiz
- Taliese Fuaga
- Nick Saldiveri
- Trevor Penning
- Landon Young
- Justin Herron
- Shane Lemieux
- Lucas Patrick

CUT
- Sincere Haynesworth
- Kyle Hergel
- Nouri Nouili
- Oli Udoh
- Mark Evans II
- Josiah Ezirim

WHY : This is an interesting one. Typically I'd keep 10 linemen, but with the new special teams rule and a third QB I think the depth here gets squeezed. In the past you'd make one of these guys inactive anyway (last year it was Saldiveri) and there are no developmental rookies you HAVE to keep in that vein. Ezirim becomes the lone draft pick who doesn't make the roster, but he'll be a priority practice squad addition to develop over time. Oli Udoh is also a guy I expect to make the roster, but for now I'm going with Justin Herron because he's someone I've at least seen get significant work.

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DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE END (5)
- Cam Jordan
- Carl Granderson
- Chase Young
- Payton Turner
- Isaiah Foskey

CUT
- Trajan Jeffcoat
- Niko Lalos
- Nate Latu

WHY : Not unlike the OL, I'm squeezing the defensive line for a roster spot. Whereas I'd typically keep 10, I was going to have to pull from either DE or DT. The injury to Tanoh Kpassagnon made that decision for me. I'm not keeping an extra guy just to fill that inside/outside role, but if I did it'd be Trajan Jeffcoat. I do like this five-man group a lot, I just need the bottom three names to stay on the field to make it work (that's a big ask).

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DEFENSIVE TACKLE (4)
- Khalen Saunders
- Nathan Shepherd
- Bryan Bresee
- Khristian Boyd

CUT
- Kyler Baugh
- Jack Heflin
- Kendal Vickers

WHY : If Kpassgnon was healthy I'd have probably cut this group down to three and likely sent Boyd to the practice squad. In this case I don't have to and I'll have elite depth here. We'll see if Bresee can step up in Year 2 as a more all-around 3-tech player, and if so I'll probably have Boyd inactive on gamedays. I just don't like cutting draft picks if I don't have to and I like what I've seen from Boyd early on, so he makes it here.

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LINEBACKER (6)
- Demario Davis
- Pete Werner
- Willie Gay
- D'Marco Jackson
- Jaylon Ford
- Khaleke Hudson

CUT
- Monty Rice
- Anfernee Orji
- Isaiah Stalbird

WHY : In other years I'd probably have kept one fewer linebacker and erred toward an extra big body, but this is where the new kickoff rules makes a big impact. In 2023 I'd be deciding between Jaylon Ford and Khaleke Hudson. This year I'm keeping both. The top three linebackers are a lock, and D'Marco Jackson was a standout performer on last year's special teams units. I expect him to be that again.

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CORNERBACK (4)
- Marshon Lattimore
- Paulson Adebo
- Alontae Taylor
- Kool-Aid McKinstry

CUT
- Rezjohn Wright
- Rico Payton
- Shemar Jean-Charles

WHY : Really not a ton to talk about here, assuming health and no trades. This is as strong a depth chart top to bottom as we'll see at any position (and honestly that we've seen on the Saints in some time). The only question is who gets kept around on the practice squad.

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SAFETY (6)
- Tyrann Mathieu
- Jordan Howden
- Johnathan Abram
- J.T. Gray
- Ugo Amadi
- Will Harris

CUT
- Lawrence Johnson
- Millard Bradford
- Faion Hicks

WHY : Another position where the special teams units steal a roster spot. With the new kickoff rule I'm keeping an extra linebacker for bigger blocking/coverage matchups and an extra safety for smaller blocking/coverage matchups. In this case it's Will Harris, a veteran with defensive versatility that I think is building trust. Mathieu, Howden and Abram feel like locks and the starting options with Howden in dime looks, in my opinion. J.T. Gray is a special teams captain and that won't change, and Ugo Amadi is a versatile player that the coaches like and who has been standing out in practices thus far. Behind Mathieu there's no real big names in this group, but I think it's better than it'll get credit for heading into the season.

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SPECIALISTS (3)
- Blake Grupe
- Lou Hedley
- Zach Wood

CUT
- Charlie Smyth
- Matt Hayball

WHY : There's no reason not to bring in camp legs, but there's also no reason to go with an untested rookie at either specialist position if you like the guys you have. Say what you want about Grupe and Hedley, it's clear that's the case for Darren Rizzi, who said he's expecting a Year 2 leap from both players. I expect Smyth to land on the practice squad to take advantage of the new international slot, and it'll be fun to see if he can develop over time.

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PUP
- RT Ryan Ramzcyk
- LB Nephi Sewell
- DE Tanoh Kpassagnon

WHY : This is one of the changes from my previous projection, but it just doesn't seem worth trying to work around it anymore. I expect all three of these players to be on the PUP list at the start of camp, and I'd be surprised if any is back by the start of the season. Nephi Sewell is the biggest question, but the timing of his knee injury (Week 17 of last year) isn't helpful. I think his target will be a mid-year return at best.

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PRACTICE SQUAD (17)
- LB Anfernee Orji
- DE Trajan Jeffcoat
- DE Niko Lalos
- DT Jack Heflin
- DB Millard Bradford
- DB Lawrence Johnson
- CB Rico Payton
- WR Stanley Morgan
- WR Jermaine Jackson
- TE Michael Jacobson
- RB Jordan Mims
- FB Zander Horvath
- QB Nathan Peterman
- OT Oli Udoh
- OL Mark Evans III
- OL Josiah Ezirim
- K Charlie Smyth (international player slot)