re: Final 53 Prediction Thread

Another important thing to remember is we may see a few vets on the bottom end (not saying it will be these guys but examples like Vereen and Floyd) could be cut before week 1 so their more expensive salaries aren't guaranteed, and we carry a couple extra first or second year guys we intend to PS instead (which also keeps them safe from the initial mass wave of poaching).

So you may see 1-3 guys week one skew some numbers, but then have that normalize week 2 when vets are brought back.

But I doubt it'd skew numbers outside of the norm that Payton keeps:

QB: 2-3
HB: 4-5
FB: 1-2(though these days 2 seems extremely unlikely unless we go only 2 TEs or if we go very light on the other skill positions)
WR: 5-6
TE: 3-4
OL: 8-10
DL: 8-10
LB: 6-8
CB: 4-6
S: 4-6
Specialists: 3-4 (definitely only 3 this year)

Why’s everyone so hyped up about Tate? I got 9 downvotes just by mentioning he hasn’t scored a return td in 7 years. I think this board is starved for a return man and blinded by Tate’s current state of being below average. Guy provides next to nothing in the return game and NOTHING in the passing game. This is the deepest team the Saints have had in years. I’d be infuriated and so should everyone else if Tate takes one of the 53 roster spots and one of the 46 gameday spots. That’s unacceptable. This team is 70 deep and we are about to waste a spot on a guy who hasn’t been good in 7 years.

I hope this year we stay fat at the DL and the OL positions. With Terron and Peat and our usual rash of injuries on the O-line and with Oak and the seemingly great depth on the D-line I hope we keep more than we normally do.

It's up to the player at that point. Once someone on the PS is offered a contract they can do several things:

Refuse the contract and stay on our PS (with a pay bump like Tom got, or without one but most players will take the money).

Tell the current team someone offered them a contract and allow them to match (technically it doesn't need to match but most of these guys will only be offered minimum), being put on the 53 man roster.

Sign the contract and leave.

The teams don't have much say in the process once a guy is on the PS. It's not like the waiver system where the player has to go to the team that claimed him.

No problem.

quote:

---

Brandon Tate is a one trick pony as a returner imo. I just dont see a reason why he would make the team when TLL is a much better WR and if Meridith gets hurt, we would need TLL to be our slot guy. Brandon Tate isnt going to get that done for us imo.

---

Ehh you might be right..
But just the fact that TLL is even in the position he is in right now, fighting for a roster spot, should tell you all you need to know about his ability / performance.

In 2 seasons, he’s had 17 receptions for 192 yards and a touchdown. He’s only even been TARGETED 25 times in 2 years, so to me, cutting TLL is pretty inconsequential. He barely even exists in the offense. Don’t get me wrong, I see the appeal and the upside of TLL, and hes been in the offense for 2 years, but I don’t know how you can definitively say he is a better receiver than Tate. TLL has had some great camps and preseason games, but at some point you have to prove it when it matters.

As for returning, Tate has pretty much carved out an NFL career out of being a returner, and the last 2 seasons, he’s hovered in and around the top 10 in both kick and punt return. Obviously, field position is a big part of the game, and if we have a consistent guy on the roster who can be top 10 in yards per return, I think that’s a solid use of a roster spot.

After last week I think they should cut Hill.