A Way Too Early Saints 53-Man Roster Prediction Part 2

Jamie UK • August 8, 2023

A Stacked Secondary But The Front 7 Could Be Lacking Depth



On Sunday I projected the offensive players that I think will make the Saints initial 53-man roster. Today I will do the same for the defense and specialists. 


Defensive Line (9)

Cam Jordan 

Carl Granderson

Payton Turner

Tanoh Kpassagnon 

Isiah Foskey

Bryan Bresee

Nathan Shepherd

Khalen Saunders

Malcolm Roach


This feels like the easiest position group on the team to predict. The bigger question? What is the starting D-line? Carl Granderson has had a really good camp per reports but so has Payton Turner it seems for now Granderson is ahead but if Turner continues his ascend throughout camp it could easily be him. Rookie Isiah Foskey has struggled for the most part, the Saints have been getting him to learn a new technique to help with run defense which could explain some of the struggles.

At DT the Saints seem to be mixing it up the rotation a lot so there doesn’t appear to be a clear starting order. If I had to guess id go with Saunders and Bresee as your starting pair. Either way, the Saints like to rotate their D-line regularly so all 4 will get plenty of run throughout the year.


Linebacker (5)

Demario Davis

Pete Werner 

Zack Baun

D’Marco Jackson

Nephi Sewell 


Linebacker is a tough group to predict with many question marks behind Demario Davis and Pete Werner. Baun is currently pencilled in as the starting SAM but the Saints play the majority of their defensive snaps in Nickel meaning there are only 2 LBs on the field at once. Baun still hasn’t really taken the leap as the Saints would have hoped. He has been on the wrong end of a lot of plays in coverage, has been good enough against the run and with Andrew Dowell suffering a torn ACL in practice last week, it leaves Baun as the LB one who played the most special teams snaps for the team last season. 


There was a lot of hype about Jackson earlier in the offseason which quietened early in camp, the last few days he’s started to make plays, first as the 2nd string MIKE, then as the starting MIKE LB whilst Davis has been out with a calf injury, Jackson seems to be a player the team is high on as a 5th round pick from last years draft. To round out the group I have Nephi Sewell, a player I thought was going to make the 53 last year but spent most of the year on the practice squad, he’s been the best of the rest so far in camp, especially against the run.


Ryan Connelly and 2023 UDFA Anfernee Orji are both players who I think could crack this list both have flashed in camp and could push Sewell for his spot. Additionally, the Saints could keep 6 LBs on the 53, as they have before with Connelly and Orji being prime candidates for that spot, I’d expect both to end up on the practice squad If not kept on the initial 53.




Cornerbacks (5)


Marshon Lattimore

Alontae Taylor

Paulson Adebo

Bradley Roby 

Isaac Yiadom


The first 4 should be no surprise, Lattimore is reportedly having his best camp as a Saints and is barely giving up a catch. Taylor and Adebo are battling for the outside CB spot opposite Lattimore and currently, it appears surprisingly that Adebo may be winning this battle as things stand. Roby is your starting Slot CB. 


Now, the Saints may opt to keep 6 LBs and therefore may only keep 4 CBs as I believe they did last year. I on the other hand have opted to keep Isaac Yiadom, who was picked up late last season and immediately solved the Saints issues at the Gunner spot opposite All-Pro J.T. Gray. He's continued to look the part on special teams this year but has also made some plays on defense. Therefore, he provides more than enough value to earn a spot on the 53.


There are two other players who are making a case for my 5th CB spot, Troy Pride Jr and Anthony Johnson. Pride has been making players all camp forcing multiple turnovers, which we all know HC Dennis Allen will love. Johnson another 2023 UDFA has been really solid in training camp after being injured during OTAs and minicamp. He’s broken up multiple passes and has looked strong in coverage, Ultimately, I think this is the hardest position group on the team to break into, again I’d expect both to end up on the practice squad if they clear waivers.


Safety (6)


Tyrann Mathieu 

Marcus Maye

Jordan Howden

J.T. Gray

Ugo Amadi 

Lonnie Johnson Jr


Another really tough group to predict, Mathieu and Maye are of course locks, as is J.T. Gray for special teams value alone. The team seems to love Howden, especially his versatility as he’s taken snaps with the 1’s at FS and SS was the team's 5th-round pick from this year’s draft. 


With only 2 spots left firstly I went with Ugo Amadi he’s been the slot defender for the second-string defense and is a solid special teams contributor (arguably I could have put his with the CBs but yeah...)he has also made plays at safety.


The last spot for me could easily go to Jonathan Abrams, who seems to have a role as the team's DIME LB and is a nice physical player for run support from the safety spot. Lonnie Johnson is versatile and has a bit of P.J. Williams about him with his ability to play all across the secondary (also had an interception in today's practice). Finally is fan favourite Smoke Monday who has also seen playing time with the 1’s and had an interception earlier in camp.


Due to his versatility, I went with Johnson but I really could see any of the 3 making it, even 2 of the 3 with one taking Amadi’s space.


This is also tricky as the expectation is that Marcus Maye will start the season suspended, another safety is likely to be carried or added immediately after Maye is moved to the reserved/suspended list


Specialists (3)


Will Lutz

Blake Gillikin 

Zach Wood


Not much analysis here I wanted to be spicy and have Lou Hedley as the punter but at this stage, he seems a bit too raw for the Saints to risk keeping him over the proven player in Gillikin. Lutz has been excellent in camp as has his competition, Blake Grupe. All reports would suggest it's Lutz’s job to lose again due to the confidence factor in a proven player. Wood just signed a new 4-year extension and might be the only player on the team with no competition behind him so he’s about as big of a lock as a lock can get.


My plan is to come back to this throughout the offseason and update my projection as more information comes forward especially from what I see in the upcoming preseason games.

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


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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.
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