Free agent signings shake up multiple position groups

We’ve reached the doldrums of the New Orleans Saints offseason. Rookie minicamp is behind us, and so are organized team activities — along with the NFL draft, free agency, and all the other exciting offseason events. Now we’re waiting for the next month to pass us by so training camp gives us something to talk about.

Things have changed in the weeks since the last time the Saints hit the practice field. The team has signed a handful of free agents after tryouts, processed a couple of retirements, and waived some players who they felt didn’t offer as much as others. So we’ve updated our take on the New Orleans depth chart, using these criteria:

Returning startersEstablished backupsReturning from the practice squadRookie draft picksRookie free agents

We’ll have a better idea of how each position stacks up once training camp begins. For now, this is just our best guess. Let’s break it down position by position:

QuarterbacksSpencer RattlerTyler Shough (rookie)Jake HaenerHunter Dekkers (rookie)

Shough climbed ahead of Haener at OTAs and minicamp, but we shouldn’t write off the third-year backup altogether. He’ll stay in the mix after he’s finished recovering from an untimely oblique muscle injury. But this does feel like a two-horse race, and while Rattler has a real shot at starting in September, it also feels like Shough’s job to lose.

Running backsAlvin KamaraKendre MillerClyde Edwards-HelaireVelus Jones Jr.Cam AkersDevin Neal (rookie)Marcus Yarns (rookie)

We need to see those two rookies climb ahead of guys other NFL teams have had time with and chosen to move on from like Edwards-Helaire, Jones, and Akers. We really need to see Miller show up to camp engaged and available from Day 1. This might be his last chance in New Orleans, and a new rusher like Neal or Yarns could displace him.

Tight endsJuwan JohnsonTaysom HillFoster MoreauDallin HolkerTreyton WelchMichael JacobsonJack StollSeth GreenMoliki Matavao (rookie)

It sounds like Hill is in the team’s plans for 2025, but he’s got to get healthy first. So does Moreau. Expect Johnson to log most of the snaps played, routes run, and passes caught at tight end, but you’d really like to see Holker establish him and fight off all of that competition for the fourth roster spot.

Left tackleKelvin Banks Jr. (rookie)Landon YoungJosiah EzirimEaston Kilty (rookie)Barry Wesley

If the Saints have a different plan in mind for the tackle spots, we haven’t seen it yet. They kept Banks at his college position of left tackle and moved Taliese Fuaga back to his old right tackle spot, so the real question is who backs them up. Young has played snaps at both spots in the NFL. Ezirim has been cross-training. Wesley was signed after OTAs to compete with Kilty there, too.

Left guardTrevor PenningDillon RadunzNick SaldiveriLandon YoungKyle HergelTorricelli Simpkins III (rookie)

The hope has to be for Penning to win this job outright, and a veteran like Radunz should be good competition for him. The Saints have been moving Young all over the line as a guard-tackle hybrid. Hergel is an option, too, but he’s probably focused on snapping the ball from center these days. Don’t overlook Simpkins at the bottom of the depth chart.

CenterErik McCoyWill ClappKyle HergelTorricelli Simpkins III (rookie)

Who backs up McCoy this year? Clapp figures to be ahead in the competition, but young guys like Hergel and, if he gets the chance, Simpkins, could push the journeyman. Clapp’s experience with head coach Kellen Moore and offensive line coach Brendan Nugent likely makes a difference, at least early on.

Right guardCesar RuizNick SaldiveriJosh BallKyle HergelEaston Kilty (rookie)

This is another spot where the depth chart could look different, even with Ruiz starting again. Saldiveri was limited to left guard by the old staff but he’s now working on the right side, which could be good for him; he played right tackle in college before the Saints made him a guard. Ball has experience at both tackle and guard, too, so the second-string might be something to watch this summer.

Right tackleTaliese FuagaLandon YoungJosh BallJosiah Ezirim

Fuaga is moving back to his college position and should do well there. The question, as with so many of these offensive line spots, is who backs him up. You have to think Young is in the driver’s seat for that job but maybe Ball earns a roster spot by showing some flexibility. Ezirim could get some looks at his natural position, too.

Wide receiversChris OlaveRashid ShaheedBrandin CooksBub MeansCedrick Wilson Jr.Kevin Austin Jr.Mason TiptonDante PettisDonovan Peoples-JonesChris Tyree (rookie)Moochie Dixon (rookie)

Peoples-Jones was added to the receiving corps, but otherwise it’s the same group we saw right after the draft. And it still lacks someone with a big catch radius and sure hands who can reliably pick up first downs. Maybe they’re just going to rely on spacing and speed to carry the group this year, which wouldn’t be the worst thing with guys like Olave, Shaheed, and Cooks on top of the depth chart.

Special teams

Punters: Matthew Hayball, James Burnip (rookie)

Kickers: Blake Grupe, Charlie Smyth

Long snapper: Zach Wood

Grupe and Smyth were both impressive at OTAs in the spring, so this could be a real competition come training camp. Burnip wasn’t able to get a work visa in time to compete so we haven’t seen anything from him just yet.

Nose tackles (0-tech)Davon GodchauxJohn Ridgeway IIIKhristian BoydOmari Thomas (rookie)

Godchaux is likely to play a ton of snaps as a starting interior lineman, whether the Saints primarily run three-man fronts or four. Two of the three guys behind probably aren’t making the team unless they can do a better job stopping the run than we saw last year.

Defensive tackles (3-tech)Bryan BreseeNathan ShepherdKhalen SaundersVernon Broughton (rookie)

Brandon Staley does use a lot of four-man fronts so we’ll see plenty of Bresee, Shepherd, and maybe Broughton if he can push Saunders off the team. Or maybe the Saints envision a world where both guys can coexist. Staley was known for rotation his linemen often in previous stops.

Defensive ends (5-tech)Cameron JordanJonah WilliamsJasheen Davis (rookie)

We’re calling them a 5-tech for simplicity’s sake (lining up on the tackle’s outside shoulder) but Staley plays guys from this archetype head-over the tackle or against the blocker’s inside shoulder, too. Jordan wants to rush the quarterback from out wide because it gives him the best opportunity at more sacks, but he’s more effective lining up inside and closer to the football. Expect each of these guys to move around a lot.

Edge rushers (7-tech)Chase YoungCarl GrandersonCameron JordanIsaiah FoskeyChris Rumph IIFadil Diggs (rookie)

Just like with the other defensive line techniques, these guys get moved around out on the edge, too. Don’t be shocked when Young or Granderson rushes from a wide-nine alignment way outside the tight end’s outer shoulder. That’s how Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd have been used in Staley’s system before. Can Foskey finally show something in that role? This group needs another guy.

LinebackersDemario DavisPete WernerNephi SewellDanny Stutsman (rookie)D’Marco JacksonJaylan FordIsaiah StalbirdTyreem Powell (rookie)

Stutsman was rocketing up the depth chart when the Saints broke camp for the summer, so we’re eager to see what kind of opportunities he can earn when they regroup. Davis may only have a year or two left and getting a young guy like that starter’s reps could prove to be a valuable investment.

SafetiesTyrann MathieuJustin ReidJordan HowdenJ.T. GrayUgo AmadiTerrell BurgessJonas Sanker (rookie)Elliott Davison (rookie)

You’d like to see Sanker climb the depth chart and make his case to inherit a starting role from Mathieu, but he isn’t there yet. The Saints signed Burgess (who played for Staley in the past) after a free agent tryout, so they’re obviously aware of the depth issues at safety.

CornerbacksAlontae TaylorKool-Aid McKinstryIsaac YiadomRico PaytonRejzohn WrightJayden PriceQuincy Riley (rookie)Dalys Beanum (rookie)

Riley missed most of the offseason program recovering from an injury, but that was described as more of a precaution than anything serious. He has a great opportunity to compete for a starting job in training camp given the career backups surrounding him. Don’t be shocked if the Saints sign a veteran with starter’s reps behind them before camp starts.