Free agent signings shake up multiple position groups

It’s been a busy week for the New Orleans Saints, with more than a dozen free agents trying out and several of them signing before the team met the Los Angles Rams for a joint practice session. Then the Saints traveled home to New Orleans ahead of Sunday’s preseason game with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A lot has changed for this roster in the span of a week. With just 53 spots available to these 90 players, competition is only going to get more intense as we go down the stretch. So take a minute to catch up on the depth chart at every position going into Sunday’s exhibition game:

QuarterbacksSpencer RattlerTyler Shough (rookie)Jake Haener

Hunter Dekkers was waived again this week, but it looks like he’s in a similar position to R.J. Barrett a couple of years ago as a developmental quarterback the Saints aren’t worried about another team poaching. He should return to the practice squad after roster cuts at the end of the month, if not sooner. Rattler remains ahead of Shough on the depth chart, but if the rookie does well on Sunday that could change permanently.

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

Kellen Moore has only rostered three running backs for most of his coaching career, except for the 2023 season when he called plays on Brandon Staley’s Los Angeles Chargers staff (when he kept four). There isn’t a clear winner in the battle to back up Kamara but Edwards-Helaire may get the nod based on his reliability in blitz pickup.

Tight endsJuwan JohnsonTaysom Hill (PUP)Foster Moreau (PUP)Jack StollTreyton WelchMichael JacobsonMoliki Matavao (rookie)Seth Green

Welch really helped himself in the first preseason game, and he probably makes the team if both Hill and Moreau start the season on the PUP list due to their knee injuries. But this position group is largely projection until we see more from Johnson.

Left tackleKelvin Banks Jr. (rookie)Landon YoungJosiah EzirimBarry Wesley

The Saints threw Dillon Radunz into this spot last week, which proved to be a mistake. He should only be lining up at guard. Banks did really well on limited snaps in the starting lineup. Young is a decent backup, and Ezirim might have something, but the team should continue looking into options to get better behind the rookie.

Left guardTrevor PenningDillon RadunzShane LemieuxKyle Hergel

Radunz is likely the Week 1 starter with Penning sidelined by another turf toe injury, and the good news is Radunz has played better at guard than tackle in the past. The Saints also brought back Lemieux after Nick Saldiveri suffered a season-ending injury. But this feels like another spot which could use more depth.

CenterErik McCoyTorricelli Simpkins III (rookie)Mike Panasiuk

Losing Will Clapp to an injury this early in the process is really difficult, but Simpkins has done some nice things in a bigger role than was planned for him. The Saints signed Panasiuk, an All-UFL center, to compete with him as McCoy’s backup. This is a battle to watch in the next two weeks.

Right guardCesar RuizKyle HergelEaston Kilty (rookie)

Hergel’s best shot at making the team could be backing up Ruiz, but the numbers game could push him to the practice squad again. Kilty has tried out at a couple of different spots but hasn’t yet settled in.

Right tackleTaliese FuagaJosiah EzirimBarry WesleyJonathan Mendoza (rookie)

Radunz tried out here, too, but he belongs at left guard especially with Penning on the mend. Ezirim has done well working at both tackle spots as a backup and has a leg up on these other guys for a roster spot.

Wide receiversChris OlaveRashid ShaheedBrandin CooksCedrick Wilson Jr.Mason TiptonDante PettisKevin Austin Jr.Donovan Peoples-JonesMoochie Dixon (rookie)Roderick Daniels (rookie)

The top five in this group is set, and Bub Means probably wasn’t the making the team even before he went down with an injury. Still it’s a tough break for the young guy. The Saints signed Daniels after a group tryout but the rookie free agent doesn’t have an easy way to make the roster.

Special teams

Punters: James Burnip (rookie), Kai Kroeger (rookie)

Kickers: Blake Grupe, Charlie Smyth

Long snapper: Zach Wood

Grupe is running away with this job again, but it’s anyone’s guess as to which punter wins that roster spot.

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

Godchaux doesn’t have anyone threatening to take snaps away from him, so let’s get that out of the way first. Boyd made a big play in last week’s preseason game but we need to see more from him to leap ahead of Ridgeway.

Defensive tackles (3-tech)Bryan BreseeKhalen SaundersJayden Peevy

Bresee and Saunders don’t really have anyone behind them, so expect those two veterans to dominate snaps on the interior when the Saints use a four-man front. Saunders is a little more versatile of the two while Bresee has more playmaking ability than anyone else on the defensive interior.

Defensive ends (5-tech)Nathan ShepherdJonathan BullardJonah WilliamsVernon Broughton (rookie)

Shepherd is out in front of the rest of these guys, though both Bullard and Williams have had nice moments. We haven’t seen much from Broughton which is disappointing given how excited the Saints were to pick him on draft day.

Edge rushers (7-tech)Chase YoungCarl GrandersonCameron JordanChris Rumph IIIsaiah FoskeyFadil Diggs (rookie)Jasheen Davis (rookie)Jeremiah Martin

Diggs is doing more to fight for a roster spot than Foskey, who stayed on the field for the entire preseason game last week without collecting a single tackle. Diggs had some flashes, too, and we’re guessing he would catch on the practice squad. Martin has an opportunity to make a splash too after signing this week.

LinebackersDemario DavisPete WernerDanny Stutsman (rookie)Nephi SewellD’Marco JacksonJaylan FordIsaiah StalbirdTyreem Powell (rookie)

Linebacker has turned into a surprisingly competitive position group, and a good player or two is going to be left on the outside looking in during roster cuts. We’re guessing the top four guys are safe with just one of the next three being considered for the 53-man roster. Could the other two clear waivers and stick on the practice squad?

SafetiesJustin ReidJulian BlackmonJordan HowdenJ.T. GrayTerrell BurgessJonas Sanker (rookie)Ugo AmadiElliott Davison (rookie)

Sanker has done some things well but the vets have played better throughout the summer. Blackmon in particular asserted himself right away and should be the Week 1 starter next to Reid. Howden is doing a good job fending off his competition, but guys like Burgess and Amadi are right in the mix, too. If Alontae Taylor can’t man the slot in Week 1, Amadi figures to be the go-to choice to fill in for him.

CornerbacksAlontae TaylorKool-Aid McKinstryIsaac YiadomQuincy Riley (rookie)Rico PaytonRejzohn WrightJayden PriceDalys Beanum (rookie)

All Riley has done this summer is make plays on the ball and develop a case to be a starter in Week 1. It’s been really impressive. Payton isn’t going away quietly, though, and Taylor’s injury gives the second-year pro to stick around on the active roster. Yiadom has held his own but those young pros are coming for his spot in the lineup.