A Way Too Early Saints 53-Man Roster Prediction Part 1

Jamie UK • August 6, 2023

The Offense

The Saints have been in training camp for a couple of weeks now, with plenty to take from each day. From bottom of the roster players showing out to vets fighting for their spots. I think at this stage a fun exercise to undertake would be to predict the Saints 53-man roster based on all the reports and whispers I’ve heard since camp started and throughout the rest of the off-season. Here I will predict the offense with part 2 featuring the defense and specialists coming soon.


Offense

Quarterbacks (3)

Derek Carr 

Jameis Winston 

Jake Haener


This is probably the easiest position group on the roster to predict. Carr has been excellent so far in camp and looks to be everything the Saints thought he would be. Winston is arguably one of the best backup QBs in the league, from all reports he’s had a solid camp but there certainly seems to be a big uptick in QB play from Winston to Carr.

The biggest surprise of the group has been 4th round rookie Jake Haener (one of ‘my guys’ from this draft cycle) who has not looked one bit like a rookie from all reports around camp. Haener has looked decisive, in good control of the system and has avoided a lot of the classic rookie QB mistakes. He’s also added in some wow throws especially on deep shots, at this stage, Haener has already shown much greater promise than any other QBs the Saints have drafted in the Sean Payton and post Sean Payton eras.


Running backs/Fullback (4)

Alvin Kamara

Jamaal Williams

Kendre Miller

Adam Prentice (FB)


The top three players here are slam-dunks to predict. All have looked good in camp, especially Kamara and Miller. There hasn’t been much coverage of Williams apart from his unique answers to interview questions but he appears as advertised. Miller has been electric so far per reports with many on the Saints beat commenting on his burst, vision and underrated pass-catching ability. On paper, this looks to be one of the best backfields that the Saints have had probably since 2017. 

Having 2 players the calibre of Williams and Miller behind Kamara will only help his utilisation, Kamara has already been working with the WRs in camp, which gives me hope his use as a pass catcher will increase from last season. 

The tricky element for predicting this group is Alvin Kamara’s 3-game suspension the Saints will have to carry Kamara on the 53 before they put him on the Reserve/Suspended, which will then give them back an open roster spot. This then gives the team two options carry an extra running back which could have been Eno Benjamin but he sadly ruptured his Achilles during Saturday's practice.  Ellis Merriweather has flashed in camp as has converted WR and camp standout from last season Kirk Merritt. You sign one or both to the practice squad and elevate them on gamedays. Players can be elevated for gamedays twice before needing to be signed to the active roster. With Kamara’s suspension being 3 games this would be in my opinion would be the better option to give the Saints another roster spot available for players they don't think will get through waivers.


Now with Benjamin's injury I'd expect the Saints to add a RB in the coming days who could end up being an option for the 53.


Wide Receiver (5)

Michael Thomas 

Chris Olave 

Rashid Shaheed 

Tre’Quan Smith 

A.T. Perry


The top three here are like the RBs Thomas, Olave and Shaheed are locks bearing anything unforeseen. After Shaheed is murky and Saints fans won’t want to hear this but as it stands Tre’Quan is yet again going to make this team, he’s been the best of the rest so far in practice, has started to add special teams to his repertoire and of course, is one the best-blocking WRs in the NFL.

Perry has made plays but has been inconsistent I think at this stage he sounds to have shown enough to warrant a place on the 53. I had high hopes for Bryan Edwards given his rapport with Carr, solid contested catch abilities and underrated blocking skills would have translated to him being the easy number 4 WR, so far in camp per reports he hasn’t really shown too much to warrant a spot over Smith or Perry.

Other players with a puncher's chance are James Washington, Keke Coutee and Keith Kirkwood. All 3 have flashed in camp and id imagine at least 2 could find their way to the practice squad if they do not make the initial 53.


Tight End (4) 

Juwan Johnson

Foster Moreau 

Taysom Hill 

Jimmy Graham


Again, the top 3 here are locks in my opinion, all three have had good camps and made plays regularly although Johnson has not quite ascended as I expected just yet I still have high expectations for him this season. Due to Taysom’s expected diverse role, I expect the Saints to keep 4 TEs, I’ve gone with Graham who would likely see a very specialised rule in the redzone and other obvious passing situations.

 I could make a case for Jesse James over Graham as the Saints are a bit light on blocking in this room. Moreau is solid, Johnson showed improvements last season and Taysom has shown promise as a blocker, it isn’t their ‘bread and butter’ like it was for Josh Hill In years past. I could see the Saints adding a more distinguished blocker to this group down the line, depending on how much Johnson has developed.


Offensive Line (9)

Trevor Penning

James Hurst

Erik McCoy

Cesar Ruiz

Ryan Ramczyk

Andrus Peat

Nick Saldiveri

Calvin Throckmorton 

Landon Young 


Penning, Hurst, McCoy, Ruiz, Ramczyk are locks, Peat and Saldiveri feel close to that, but there could be a chance that one or both somehow don’t make it. If Peat does lose his starting job to Hurst (which looks very likely currently) he would be quite an expensive backup so maybe the Saints would cut bait? I’d find it unlikely given the history of injuries across the line but it is something within the realms of possibility. Reports on Saldiveri have been quiet but the Saints were very high on him in the draft, id be very surprised if they cut bait on him at this stage.


Throckmorton and Young are interchangeable both have provided solid depth for this team in the past although Young has played snaps at both tackle spots and started at LG in Friday's practice with Peat and Hurst both not practising so he looks more of a solid bet for the 53. I could easily see Storm Norton as the vet backup tackle option instead of Young. On the interior Mark Evans II who they gave huge guarantees to as a UDFA, Lewis Kidd who the team were very high on last season and also had OT versatility if needed  or vet C/OG Max Garcia could all make it in place of Throckmorton. 


Keeping 10 O-linemen also wouldn’t be a crazy proposition as they have in the past.




That gives me 25 offensive players, leaving 27 spots left up for grabs for the defense and specialists. Keep an eye out for part 2 where I will go through my defensive and specialist players.


Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @SaintsReportUK, for much more Saints content and discussion throughout the 2023 season and beyond.


A quick share helps us a lot!

This Facebook widget is no longer supported.

Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
Show More