Saints Final Roster Projection (Final Cuts Tuesday)

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Saints roster projection: A final guess on who makes the cut. Here's who's in and out.
BY MATTHEW PARAS | Staff writer 52 mins ago


NFL cuts are due Tuesday, so it’s time to get one more 53-man roster projection in before the New Orleans Saints finalize their initial group for the season.

Unlike past editions, injured reserve is going to play a factor here. Because of new rules this year, NFL teams are now allowed to put up to two players on injured reserve on cut-down day — and still bring them back after sitting out a minimum of four games. Previously, teams had to set their 53-man rosters and then account for injured reserve if they wanted their players to return at all next season.

That should benefit the Saints. So with that in mind, let’s take a final guess:



Quarterback (3): Derek Carr, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler
Even with Spencer Rattler’s impressive preseason finish, gut says that Haener is still in line to be QB2 behind Carr.

Running back/fullback (5): Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, Jordan Mims, Adam Prentice and Taysom Hill
Note the absence of Kendre Miller. For these purposes, let’s put him on injured reserve since he hasn’t practiced since the opening day of training camp (July 24) when he hurt his hamstring. That clears the way for Mims, who had a strong camp and preseason.

Wide receiver (5): Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Cedrick Wilson Jr., A.T. Perry, Bub Means
It was tempting to keep Equanimeous St. Brown after his standout performance in Sunday’s 30-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans, but five makes the most sense from a math standpoint. If St. Brown makes it, perhaps the Saints will keep six receivers or cut Perry, who has had an up-and-down summer but flashed in the preseason.



Tight end (3): Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, Dallin Holker
This one was easy even with Holker’s ankle injury. If there was a door open to make the roster, Michael Jacobson didn’t do himself any favors with a rough outing against the Titans.



Offensive line (9): Taliese Fuaga, Lucas Patrick, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Trevor Penning, Oli Udoh, Landon Young, Nick Saldiveri, Kyle Hergel
What to do with Nick Saldiveri? This is just a guess, but if teams are only allowed to use injured reserve on two players and have them still return, then the Saints might be willing to ride out Saldiveri’s calf injury as long as it won’t cost him several more months. There’s another spot on this projection where the injured reserve tag could be better used. If Saldiveri is placed on injured reserve, then that opens the door for Shane Lemieux or Josiah Ezirim. In that event, pencil in Ezirim – who has looked overwhelmed in his first training camp, but has upside that could be worth developing.



Special teams (3): K Charlie Smyth, P Lou Hedley and LS Zach Wood
Our Jeff Duncan made a great case for why the Saints will probably keep Blake Grupe instead of Smyth, but it was notable that the Saints didn’t have their Irish kicker attempt any field goals the last two preseason games. Are they trying to hide him to get to the practice squad? There’s another explanation: Allen said the rookie experienced tightness in his groin dating back to Friday’s practice.

In any case, I’ve been on the Smyth train and I’m sticking to it.

Defensive end (5): Cam Jordan, Carl Granderson, Chase Young, Payton Turner, Isaiah Foskey
It’s too soon to give up on Foskey, a 2023 second rounder, and even if the Saints wanted to do so, there isn’t anyone on the roster who would be a clear upgrade at his position. He makes it.



Defensive tackle (4): Nathan Shepherd, Bryan Bresee, Khalen Saunders, Khristian Boyd
Allen said Saunders has a calf injury, but did not mention if he could be in danger of missing New Orleans’ Sept. 8 season opener against the Panthers.

Linebacker (6): Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Willie Gay, D’Marco Jackson, Anfernee Orji, Khaleke Hudson
Jaylan Ford has been dealing with a hamstring injury, and so it might make sense for the Saints to put him on injured reserve and a clear spot for Hudson – who has played a lot on special teams. Jackson has also missed practice recently with a calf injury, so that’s another thing that could help secure Hudson’s place on the 53.


Cornerback (5): Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Shemar Jean-Charles
Safety (5): Tyrann Mathieu, Johnathan Abram, Jordan Howden, Will Harris, J.T. Gray
Ugo Amadi could make it over Jean-Charles if the Saints want a backup for Taylor at nickel. But McKinstry has also filled that role, so that should help Jean-Charles' cause. The biggest concern with the secondary? There’s no obvious starter across from Mathieu – even after a whole training camp and three preseason games.

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