Here’s what a 53-man roster for the Saints will probably look like for the 2020 opener
If ever there was a NFL season to have a stable football operations, a proven, deep-rooted head coach and a veteran roster liberally sprinkled with Pro Bowl-caliber players, the COVID-19 challenged season of 2020 is the one.
I present the New Orleans Saints.
Truth be told, the three-time defending NFC South champions are among eight to 10 teams that should have a notable advantage over nearly two dozen teams still trying to find their sea legs in this pandemic world.
With so many important questions still unanswered less than two weeks until training camp, I dare say Saints coach Sean Payton might be relatively comfortable picking his Week 1 starters and 53-man roster without the benefit of a preseason game.
That’s not to say the Saints would be mentally sharp and in peak condition to face Tampa Bay, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in their season opener Sept. 13 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
But I feel the Saints would acquit themselves well because of their quality roster regardless how few masked Who Dats come through the turnstiles and maintain proper social distancing in the 73,000-seat stadium.
Even without the team going through a normal offseason program, it’s not too difficult to project the vast majority of the Saints’ 53-man roster. There’s always a surprise or two in training camp but there are very few spots to be had on the roster.
I suspect it will include three of the team’s four draft picks: guard Cesar Ruiz, tight end Adam Trautman and edge rusher/linebacker Zack Baun with QB/athlete Tommy Stevens likely ending up on the practice squad (provided he clears waivers).
So without further delay, here is my way-too-early final 53.
OFFENSE (25)
QB — Drew Brees, Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill.
RB — Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, Ty Montgomery, Dwayne Washington.
WR — Michael Thomas, Taysom Hill.
WR — Emmanuel Sanders, Deonte Harris.
WR — Tre’Quan Smith, Austin Carr.
TE — Jared Cook, Josh Hill, *Adam Trautman.
LT — Terron Armstead, James Hurst.
LG — Andrus Peat, Patrick Omameh.
C — Erik McCoy, Nick Easton.
RG — *Cesar Ruiz, Will Clapp.
RT — Ryan Ramczyk, James Hurst.
DEFENSE (25)
LDE — Cam Jordan, Trey Hendrickson.
LDT — Sheldon Rankins, David Onyemata.
RDT — Malcom Brown, Mario Edwards Jr. Shy Tuttle.
RDE — Marcus Davenport, *Zack Baun.
WLB — Demario Davis, Craig Robertson.
MLB — Kiko Alonso, Craig Robertson.
SLB — Alex Anzalone, *Zack Baun, Kaden Ellis.
LCB — Janoris Jenkins, P.J. Williams, Justin Hardee.
SS — Malcolm Jenkins, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, J.T. Gray.
FS — Marcus Williams, Saquan Hampton, D.J. Swearinger.
RCB — Marshon Lattimore, Patrick Robinson.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
P — Thomas Morstead.
K — Wil Lutz.
H — Thomas Morstead, Taysom Hill.
PR — Deonte Harris, Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill.
KR — Deonte Harris, Taysom Hill, Ty Montgomery.
LS — Zach Wood.
* 2020 draft pick.