We’ve got our first look at the roster of players competing at this weekend’s New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp, and there’s a lot to go through. Between the Saints’ picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, their crop of undrafted free agents, a handful of returning players under contract, and a couple of dozen tryouts, it’s a 55-man list. Here’s a quick look at each group with some highlights and storylines to watch in the days ahead.

Remember, this is rookie minicamp — not the big show with many veteran players and familiar names in the mix. Guys like Tyler Shough, Chase Young, and Chris Olave have been working at the team facility every day but the field is off-limits for these two practice sessions. We’ll get a look at the full team together in just a few weeks.

Advertisement

2026 NFL Draft picks (8)

WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

WR Bryce Lance, North Dakota State

OL Jeremiah Wright, Auburn

DT Christen Miller, Georgia

S Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State

All eight rookie draft picks are accounted for, though we’ll have to see if Styles has recovered enough from labrum surgery in February to practice. Everyone else should be full-go.

Undrafted free agents (10)

RB CJ Donaldson, Ohio State

OT Alex Wollschlaeger, Kentucky

TE Cody Hardy, North Carolina State

DL Jay’Viar Suggs, Wisconsin

EDGE Mike Heldman, Central Michigan

CB DaShawn Jones, Alabama

CB Jeremiah McClendon, Southern Illinois

All ten rookie free agents the Saints have announced deals with have signed and are on the minicamp roster — which excludes defensive lineman Zxavian Harris. Multiple reports have said Harris will sign with the Saints but that hasn’t happened yet, and he isn’t expected to participate at practices this weekend after being left off the roster. It could be as simple as him still recovering from foot surgery in March, but it’s odd that the team hasn’t announced a contract with him yet.

Advertisement

Returning players under contract (6)

CB Dalys Beanum, South Dakota State

DL Coziah Izzard, Penn State

OT Easton Kilty, Kansas State

Each of these guys spent time on the practice squad (or in Alford’s case, the CFL) last year but didn’t appear in enough games to accrue a full season, at least as far as the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement is concerned. That means they’re eligible to participate in rookie minicamp while remaining under contract. It’s a good opportunity for them to prove they belong.

Tryout players (31)

QB Braylon Braxton, Southern Mississippi

RB Rahsul Faison, South Carolina

WR Brock Rechsteiner, Jacksonville State

WR Javon Gipson, Abilene Christian

WR Kaleb Blaha, Wisconsin-River Falls

OL Joshua Braun, Kentucky

OL Mason Randolph, Boise State

OL Matthew Bedford, Oregon

OL Bob Schick, Oklahoma Stat

OL Davis Heinzen, Wisconsin

LS Tristan O’Brien, East Carolina

P Caden Noonkester, NC State

EDGE Malakai Williams, Boise State

EDGE Charles Esters III, Texas Tech

LB Brayden Johnson, Wyoming

LB Sam Brumfield, Memphis

DB JT Woods, Baylor (veteran)

DB Eric Butler, San Diego State

DB A’Marion McCoy, Boise State

DB Jakari Foster, Louisiana Tech

We knew many of these players would be participating, but there are a couple of new additions like Cincinnati running back Tawee Walker (one of three running backs on the minicamp roster), Tennessee tight end McCallan Castles, Texas Tech edge rusher Charles Esters III, and defensive backs A’Marion McCoy (Boise State), Jakari Foster (Louisiana Tech), and Solomon Barnes (UTEP). Curiously, record-setting Division-III quarterback Kaleb Blaha (Wisconsin-River Falls) is listed as a wide receiver.

Advertisement

Additionally, there are three veteran free agent tryouts between quarterback Easton Stick, kicker Younghoe Koo, and defensive back JT Woods. Stick and Woods played for Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley (as well as Kellen Moore and several other assistants) on the Los Angeles Chargers, so there’s some connection there.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: New Orleans Saints announce 55-man roster, tryouts for rookie minicamp