6 players to watch during Saints rookie minicamp

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Rookie minicamp shouldn’t make or break any of the Saints’ 2018 NFL draft picks. Sean Payton, Dennis Allen and Co. won’t be able to tell if Marcus Davenport is the next Reggie White or Shawn Knight.

But the three-day on-field practice sessions on Airline Drive are pivotal for the undrafted rookies actually under contract and those rookies and veterans participating on a tryout basis. Some undrafted signees could be out the door this weekend as fast as they arrived in New Orleans and replaced with tryout players.

Practices are closed to the media, so the first glimpses of the new faces won’t be seen until the start of organized team activities later this month.

But there are a few players I’m curious about heading into this weekend. And a few players I’m curious to see if they will leave this weekend with or without a contract:

Boston Scott
Typically, I wouldn’t drop a draft pick on this list, but Mark Ingram’s four-game suspension will bring an increased interest in Scott’s transition to the NFL.

Scott, the team’s sixth-rounder from Louisiana Tech, could find more immediate playing time thanks to the veteran tailback’s ban and the lack of established depth on the roster.

Comparisons to Darren Sproles immediately came to mind when the Saints selected the tailback because of Scott’s size at 5-foot-7 and 195 pounds. Scott will begin to discover this weekend what role the Saints have in mind for him.

J.T. Barrett
The Saints initially figured the former Ohio State quarterback would attend this weekend’s camp on a tryout basis. Other teams tried to sway Barrett to their camps, so the Saints ponied up a contract for Barrett.

The Saints have to possess some level of confidence in Barrett by inking him to a deal rather than supplying a plane ticket and hotel room for the weekend.

In reality, the contract gives Barrett no guarantee he’ll finish the weekend as a member of the Saints. This remains very much a tryout for the former Buckeyes standout.

Barrett’s knock leaving Ohio State surrounded his accuracy. If he can’t connect on a regular basis in these practices, the Saints might turn to someone else they watched on the practice field.

Taylor Stallworth
The Saints passed on plucking a defensive tackle in the draft, so it makes sense for Stallworth to sign on with New Orleans.

The 6-2, 312-pound nose tackle became a regular defensive contributor at South Carolina the past two seasons. He amassed 71 total tackles his junior and senior seasons.

New Orleans carries a need at defensive tackle this offseason to complement Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison and David Onyemata.

Matt Elam
I’m always intrigued by the veterans attending rookie minicamp for a tryout each year. Elam, 5 feet 10, 208 pounds, may be the most curious case I’ve seen in a while.

You might remember Elam, 26, as a first-round pick by the Ravens. The safety’s play regressed each year after coming into the league in 2013. Baltimore didn’t pick up his fifth-year option for 2017. Police arrested Elam twice in 2017, but charges were dropped both times.

Elam, 26, will attempt a comeback from the ground floor.

Deon Yelder and Cam Serigne
New Orleans wasted no time at the end of the draft in securing the former Western Kentucky tight end. The Saints opened their wallet to secure Yelder came to town as well.

Yelder pocketed $90,000 in guaranteed money to join the Saints roster. It’s one of the highest guaranteed checks issued by any team in this year’s undrafted shopping spree.

The 6-4, 255-pound tight end only started one year for the Hilltoppers. And yet he hauled in 52 receptions for 688 yards and seven touchdowns in 2017.

Plenty of eyes will follow Yelder around during this weekend’s practice sessions and beyond.

Serigne, the former Wake Forest standout tight end, might be raising his hand saying, “Don’t forget about me.”

Serigne started all four years at Wake, as opposed to Yelder’s one year atop the depth chart. The 6-3, 250-pounder has all the numbers to prove his case as an undrafted signee. He tallied 174 career receptions for 2,075 yards and 21 TDs, including nine scores his senior season.

Serigne played more of an H-back spot in college rather than a traditional tight end role. It’s probably why he’s taking the tryout route.