Predicting which rookies make the cut for the New Orleans Saints' 53-man roster

USA Today

12-05-2025

Predicting which rookies make the cut for the New Orleans Saints' 53-man roster
Are all 53 players who will be on the New Orelans Saints' Week 1 roster already on the team? That doesn't feel likely, especially given the team's offseason strategy that's beginning to look more and more like a "soft rebuild" aimed at winning the NFC South while phasing out aging veterans. Derek Carr has already retired. Possible replacements for Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Tyrann Mathieu are in the building. Clarity on Taysom Hill's future feels like the next domino to fall.
So while the Saints do have 90 players on their roster as of this moment, we've whittled the list down to 53 guys who are best-positioned to play in September. Here's a look at our latest projections position-by-position:
Quarterbacks (2)
Tyler Shough (rookie) Spencer Rattler
Roster cuts: Derek Carr (retirement), Jake Haener
We're guessing Shough wins this battle. Rattler is a late-round pick who didn't win any of his six starts last year. He had a lot to prove before a top-40 pick entered the picture. Shough will be given every opportunity to win this job but Rattler should make it a competition. How real that competition will be remains to be seen. Haener may catch on with the practice squad but he was drafted two offensive coaching staffs ago. He'll probably want to go somewhere else and seek better opportunities. Look for the Saints to sign a veteran backup to round out the group as a resource for the young guys to lean on.
Running backs (4)
Alvin Kamara Kendre Miller Devin Neal (rookie) Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Roster cuts: Jordan Mims, Xazavian Valladay, Velus Jones Jr., Marcus Yarns (rookie)
There may not be room for Edwards-Helaire if Miller finds his way in Year 3; he would need to play special teams to make the cut, and if it comes to that Jones has a decided advantage. But we'll see how it plays out. If Kellen Moore is determined to run the football, loading up on running backs makes sense. We probably shouldn't rule out Yarns at this point but he has a lot to prove as a rookie free agent.
Tight ends (4)
Juwan Johnson Foster Moreau Jack Stoll Dallin Holker
Roster cuts: Treyton Welch, Michael Jacobson, Moliki Matavao (rookie)
PUP: Taysom Hill (knee)
The third tight end will need to be a good blocker to catch on in Moore's offense, and we don't know yet if Holker fits that description. The same can be said for Matavao, one of the Saints' seventh-round picks. But you can put that point in Stoll's favor. He has fans on the coaching staff who have worked with him before, and at this early stage he may have an early lead over Holker and the guys returning from last year's practice squad. Hill's knee injury may force him to start the season on the physically unable to perform list, so that's our current assumption.
Left tackles (2)
Taliese Fuaga Landon Young
Roster cuts: Josiah Ezirim
Our current plan figures to have Kelvin Banks Jr. starting at left guard with Fuaga remaining the starter at left tackle, and this projection reflects that. If that's the case, Young has shown he can be relied on in a pinch, while Ezirim likely spends another season on the practice squad (unless the new coaching staff has someone else in mind to develop).
Left guards (3)
Kelvin Banks Jr. (rookie) Dillon Radunz Nick Saldiveri
Roster cuts: Kyle Hergel
Radunz is expecting to compete for the starting job at left guard but we're guessing Banks proves to be a better option. Still, he's a better "sixth man" to dress out on game days than guys like Shane Lemieux or Olisaemeka Udoh were a year ago. Landon Young has played some left guard for the Saints, too. Unless he can prove he can stay healthy Saldiveri may not be long for New Orleans. He's healthy right now and that's what counts. Hergel is a good bet to stash on the practice squad.
Centers (2)
Erik McCoy Will Clapp
Roster cuts: Torricelli Simpkins III (rookie)
Repeat this with me: the Saints went 1-11 in games McCoy missed or exited early due to injury last year. They need to have a viable backup on standby, and Clapp has filled that role before. It's worth dressing him out on Sundays in case he's needed.
Right guards (1)
Cesar Ruiz
Roster cuts: Easton Kilty (rookie)
Radunz has played on the right side before (and so has Clapp) so the Saints do have some depth behind Ruiz, even if it isn't immediately obvious. Injuries did keep him out of four games last year so it's worth building some flexibility into the depth chart.
Right tackles (1)
Trevor Penning
Roster cuts: Ryan Ramczyk (retirement), Josh Ball
Landon Young cross-trained at right tackle after lining up on the left side in college and the Saints have asked him to fill in at this spot before, so he would be the go-to backup for Penning if he misses time. A longer absence would require some retooling, so you could make the case for investing in a better backup plan. Maybe the new coaching staff considers moving Nick Saldiveri back to right tackle, his college position, to work on that.
Wide receivers (5)
Chris Olave Rashid Shaheed Brandin Cooks Bub Means Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Roster cuts: Kevin Austin Jr., Mason Tipton, Dante Pettis, Chris Tyree (rookie), Moochie Dixon (rookie)
It would be really nice if the Saints can talk Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper into a reunion with Kellen Moore, but they may settle for a more budget-friendly option like Donovan Peoples-Jones, who tried out at rookie minicamp over the weekend. Wilson's experience in Moore's offense gives him an edge over Austin, Tipton, and Pettis, and the two rookie free agents have a lot to prove over the summer.
Special teams (3)
Punters: James Burnip (undrafted)
Kickers: Blake Grupe
Long snapper: Zach Wood
Roster cuts: Matthew Hayball (punter), Charlie Smyth (kicker)
The punter job is hard to hold onto in New Orleans -- the Saints could be on their fourth punter in four years since they cut Thomas Morstead (Blake Gillikin in 2021 and 2022, Lou Hedley in 2023, and Hayball in 2024). Burnip has a real shot at winning that competition after he flashed sky-high potential at Alabama. Smyth needs to work on his short-range accuracy and, right now, we're guessing Grupe outduels him again.
Nose tackles/0-tech (1)
Davon Godchaux
Roster cuts: John Ridgeway III, Khristian Boyd, Omari Thomas (rookie)
Godchaux figures to play 40 snaps a game in this role, so there isn't much room for anyone behind him. Ridgeway or Boyd (or both of them) could return to the practice squad, but you have to think all the teams that were high on Boyd in last year's draft would consider poaching him off of waivers. Maybe the new coaching staff can get more out of him than last year's crew.
Defensive tackles/3-tech (3)
Bryan Bresee Nathan Shepherd Vernon Broughton (rookie)
Roster cuts: Khalen Saunders
Shepherd and Broughton both have the versatility to line up head-over-center as nose tackles or kick a little further outside and play defensive end in a 3-4 front, and that could be really helpful. Broughton in particular might play more of that role behind Cameron Jordan than we're anticipating. But Brandon Staley uses a 3-tech more often than you'd think and Bresee should get plenty of reps doing what he does best in this defense. Saunders might be the odd man out.
Defensive ends/5-tech (2)
Cameron Jordan Jasheen Davis (rookie)
Roster cuts: Jonah Williams
Here's one of the few undrafted free agents we're picking to make the team: Davis, the rookie defensive lineman from Wake Forest. He finished second and third in school history for tackles for loss and sacks, and he has a ton of experience making plays in the dynamic front Staley is installing. Williams is better versed in Staley's terminology, having played for him before, but Davis has greater potential and he'd be a good backup for Jordan. But we could see Vernon Broughton take that role, too.
Edge rushers/7-tech (4)
Chase Young Carl Granderson Isaiah Foskey Fadil Diggs (rookie)
Roster cuts: Chris Rumph II
Same thing here: Rumph has played in Staley's defense before but we're going with the younger pro in hopes of coaching him up. Diggs was a highly-regarded "culture" influence at both Texas A&M and Syracuse and was named a team captain three times. That's exactly what the Saints need rounding out their depth chart in this rebuild even if he only plays special teams to start out. It's now or never for Foskey, and we're hoping a new system finally uncorks his potential.
Linebackers (6)
Demario Davis Pete Werner Danny Stutsman (rookie) Nephi Sewell Anfernee Orji Jaylan Ford
Roster cuts: D'Marco Jackson, Isaiah Stalbird, Tyreem Powell (rookie)
It's going to be really, really tough to keep Stutsman off the field, especially if he's running as well for the Saints as he did at Oklahoma. New Orleans has always used linebackers in a lot of roles on special teams under Darren Rizzi and his right-hand man Phil Galiano stepping up as coordinator likely maintains that trend, so we could see all four of the guys behind Davis and Werner dressing out on Sundays. Jackson probably has the best shot at displacing one of them, though.
Safeties (5)
Tyrann Mathieu Justin Reid Jonas Sanker (rookie) J.T. Gray Jordan Howden
Roster cuts: Ugo Amadi, Millard Bradford, Elliott Davison (rookie)
Sanker needs to play real defensive snaps right away, and his impressive game tape in run defense should do a lot to help his case. The sooner he's developing into the long-term replacement for Mathieu, the better, but we're guessing Reid will end up being the new face of the safety position for the Saints. Howden needs to step up and earn a roster spot after showing too much inconsistency to start his career.
Cornerbacks (5)
Alontae Taylor Kool-Aid McKinstry Isaac Yiadom Rico Payton Quincy Riley (rookie)
Roster cuts: Rejzohn Wright, Travion Fluellen, Dalys Beanum (rookie)
This group still feels like it needs another player, but these may be the best five corners on the roster. Taylor, McKinstry, and Yiadom have all started NFL games before and put quality tape on film (as well as some low moments). Payton was remarkably flashy last year on a small sample size. Riley was downright dominant at times in college and it wouldn't shock us to see him in the starting lineup by September, but that's an opportunity he'll need to earn.