5 New Orleans Saints who are on thin ice entering training camp in 2022

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These five Saints players have found themselves skating on thin ice as the team inches closer to the start of training camp.

5. Cesar Ruiz
This won’t come as a surprise to anyone. As much as Saints fans would like for Cesar Ruiz to not be in the starting lineup, that’s not going to happen. He’s only in the third year of his rookie contract and the team didn’t bring in anyone that can realistically challenge him for the starting right guard job.

Ruiz, a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has been disappointing through the first two years of his career and that’s led to him being on thin ice as of now. While his starting job isn’t in danger, he runs the risk of not getting his fifth-year option picked up this time next year if he puts together another lackluster season on the offensive line.

The Ruiz pick was surprising when it happened and while his versatility could have been an asset, he hasn’t played well so far. He needs to have the training camp and preseason of a lifetime to no longer be skating on thin ice.

4. Adam Trautman
Another former 2020 draft pick makes the list, as Adam Trautman is entering a huge year. The third-round pick out of Dayton stepped into a crowded tight end room during his rookie year but when things cleared for him to be the starter in 2021, he didn’t rise to the occasion.

Trautman did show some potential down the stretch of the 2021 season but can he pick up where he left off in year three? He has to show something this year because, as most know, Taysom Hill is transitioning to tight end and he’s going to give Trautman a run for his money as the starter at the position this year.

Not only does Trautman have Hill to worry about but Nick Vannett, Juwan Johnson, and UDFA Lucas Krull will also do their part to try and make noise at the tight end position.

While Trautman has two years remaining on his rookie deal, this season is his last chance to prove that he has what it takes to be a starter. If he doesn’t show that this year, the team will be fine with moving in a different direction.

3. Tre’Quan Smith
When the Saints spent a third-round pick on Tre’Quan Smith in the 2018 NFL Draft, fans were excited about what the UCF product could provide. Unfortunately, he went on to disappoint and despite entering a contract season in 2021, couldn’t rise to the occasion and earn a bigger contract elsewhere.

With teams not calling for Smith’s services, he returned to New Orleans for another season and initially was going to be in a starting role once again. Fortunately, the Saints drafted Chris Olave and signed Jarvis Landry, which meant that Smith would be demoted to a backup role.

Smith is probably going to make the roster but he needs to show this summer that he belongs on the team. Whether that’s putting together an impressive preseason campaign or simply staying healthy, Smith has to improve.

The former third-round pick is certainly on thin ice entering training camp and now that the team has other options at the position, he’s not a lock to make the team.

2. Ian Book
After the Saints “missed out” on Deshaun Watson, they re-signed Jameis Winston and signed Andy Dalton as the backup. Taysom Hill might be transitioning to tight end but if both Winston and Dalton have to miss time, he’s probably going to get the nod over former fourth-round pick, Ian Book.

Book was drafted last year in round four out of Notre Dame and no one expected to see him on the field much, if at all, during his rookie year. He was forced into action when the quarterback room was hit with positive COVID cases and the game did not go well for Book.

While it’s not entirely fair to judge Book off of that one start due to the circumstances, the team signing Dalton as Winston’s backup isn’t a great sign for how the team views the Fighting Irish product.

Book probably won’t be cut this summer but it wouldn’t surprise me if this is his last year in New Orleans. Winston is under contract through next year and by then the team can either know if he’s the answer or if they need to draft a quarterback in the 2024 draft.

Book is definitely on thin ice.

1. Tony Jones Jr.
One of the biggest storylines for the New Orleans Saints this offseason is what is going to happen with Alvin Kamara. The running back could miss time with a suspension and if that happens, who is going to fill his role?

Mark Ingram is the obvious answer because he was the thunder to Kamara’s lightning last year and in years past. Ingram isn’t the same player he once was though and the Saints will need to have another option to pair with the former Heisman Trophy winner.

Last summer, Tony Jones Jr. impressed everyone throughout the preseason and put on such a strong performance that Latavius Murray ended up getting cut to save money. Jones went on to disappoint during the season and an injury forced the Saints to trade for Ingram.

With UDFA fan favorite Abram Smith joining the team, Jones is going to have to show up big this summer. He’s skating on thin ice because Smith is unknown while fans got to see Jones in the regular season and he wasn’t as good as advertised.

These five players need to do what they can to get off the thin ice and back onto land if they want to keep their jobs moving forward.