Here’s my best current guess at the 53 players that end up on the Saints this year. As always, this can change from game to game, day to day, or injury to injury – so I leave the possibility of change wide open. As of now, here’s how I see things shaking out:
QB: (2) Drew Brees, Chase Daniel
HB: (4) Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles, Joique Bell
FB: (1) Jed Collins
WR: (5) Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Joseph Morgan
TE: (3) Jimmy Graham, David Thomas, Tyler Lorenzen
C: (2) Olin Kreutz, Matt Tennant
G: (3) Jahri Evans, Carl Nicks, Brian de la Puente
T: (4) Jermon Bushrod, Zach Strief, Jordan Black, Charles Brown
DE: (5) Will Smith, Alex Brown, Cameron Jordan, Turk McBride, Junior Galette
DT: (4) Sedrick Ellis, Shaun Rogers, Aubrayo Franklin, Mitch King
LB: (7) Jonathan Casillas, Jonathan Vilma, Will Herring, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Martez Wilson, Scott Shanle, Nate Bussey
CB: (5) Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, Patrick Robinson, Johnny Patrick, Leigh Torrence
S: (5) Malcolm Jenkins, Roman Harper, Pierson Prioleau, Chris Reis, Jonathon Amaya
K: (1) Garrett Hartley
P: (1) Thomas Morstead
LS: (1) Justin Drescher
Notable Cuts:
LB Clint Ingram, WR/KR Courtney Roby, QB Sean Canfield, CB Fabian Washington, CB Trumaine McBride, DE Jeff Charleston, DT Tom Johnson, FB Korey Hall, S DeAndre McDaniel, S Paul Oliver, T George Foster, TE Tory Humphrey, WR Adrian Arrington.
By no means do I consider this official, as there are some hotly contested battles out there.
10 Points of note:
1. Will Smith could still be suspended. If so, we won’t take up a roster spot till he comes back. If he does get suspended, I could see Jeff Charleston or Courtney Roby earning his roster spot and the Saints weighing injuries once Smith is back.
2. Greg Romeus will either be on injured reserve or the PUP list, whereas Chris Ivory is likely headed for the PUP list. Players on the PUP do not count again the roster and are eligible to return to the active roster after week 6.
3. The final cut for me right no came down to Courtney Roby vs. Chris Reis and Pierson Prioleau. Those guys are all battling for that final gunner spot.
4. The Jed Collins vs. Korey Hall battle at fullback is a good one. Flip a coin, it could really go either way.
5. The Saints could easily keep 4 tight ends, in which case Tory Humphrey could make the team.
6. Don’t rule out the Saints picking up a player elsewhere during final cuts. I think they’ll be looking very hard for a backup at free safety (may even consider bringing Darren Sharper back). They could also look eslewhere for backup tackles and tight ends.
7. Adrian Arrington’s spot is in serious jeopardy. He’s going to need to turn in something really special these last two games.
8. I see the possible practice squad players as DeAndre McDaniel, Jed Collins (if Hall beats him out), Montez Billings, Tyler Lorenzen (if he gets cut), Mitch King (if he gets cut), Sean Canfield, Roger Allen and Nate Bussey (if he gets cut).
9. I would have said Fabian Washington was a lock going into camp but this guy is always hurt and has yet to see the field. Ditto Clint Ingram. If either of these guys had shown minimum health, they’d be locks. They haven’t, though, so their spots are in jeopardy.
10. Paul Oliver was supposed to be the backup FS, but I just don’t see him on the roster after that farce of a performance against the Texans.
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