The New Orleans Saints should be in better shape than most NFL teams from a continuity standpoint when they open training camp on July 28 at their practice facility in Metairie, Louisiana. They are returning 18 starters and nearly every coach from a team that went 13-3 in each of the past two seasons. So they should hit the ground running, and most of their 53-man roster is already set. However, expectations are higher for the Saints than most teams, as they are in Super Bowl-or-bust mode with quarterback Drew Brees heading into his 20th and possibly final season. Here is a 53-man projection.
QUARTERBACK (4): Drew Brees, Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston, Tommy Stevens
Four is a crowd. But the top three guys on this list aren't going anywhere, and the Saints proved how much they covet Stevens as a developmental prospect when they traded into the seventh round of the draft to keep him away from the rival Carolina Panthers. Hill and Stevens can both play multiple positions, like tight end, running back and receiver -- unless the Saints decide to "redshirt" Stevens as a healthy inactive each week.
RUNNING BACK (4): Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, Dwayne Washington, Ty Montgomery
Washington and Montgomery are both on the bubble. But Washington has been a core special-teams player -- which teams should value even more, now that they'll have two extra players active on game days. And newly signed veteran Montgomery can play a hybrid RB/WR role, which is why he has the edge over a sixth receiver.
FULLBACK (0)
If you count Hill and Stevens, there are five tight ends and four running backs making this roster, which lessens the need for a true fullback. Michael Burton and Ricky Ortiz are the leading candidates at the position now that veteran Zach Line has retired.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Tre'Quan Smith, Deonte Harris, Krishawn Hogan
This might be the hardest battle to project on the roster, with intriguing young players such as Hogan, Emmanuel Butler, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Juwan Johnson and Marquez Callaway battling veterans Austin Carr, Tommylee Lewis and Maurice Harris for the final one or two spots. It especially pains me to leave Butler off this list after I was so impressed by his performance last summer. But I gave Hogan the edge based on special-teams and blocking ability.
TIGHT END (3): Jared Cook, Josh Hill, Adam Trautman
All three are virtual locks. It might be hard for a fourth, like veteran Garrett Griffin, to make the roster since Hill and Stevens could also serve as tight ends.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, Andrus Peat, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Nick Easton, Will Clapp, Ethan Greenidge, Patrick Omameh, James Hurst*
Hurst is suspended for the first four games of the season, which opens the door for another veteran swingman like Omameh. I considered undrafted rookies Calvin Throckmorton and Jordan Steckler, since the Saints gave them sizable guarantees. However, the Saints also liked Greenidge a lot as an undrafted rookie last year, and he'll have an even bigger edge over this year's class since there was no offseason program.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport, David Onyemata, Malcom Brown, Sheldon Rankins, Shy Tuttle, Trey Hendrickson, Mario Edwards Jr., Carl Granderson
Veteran Margus Hunt is the most notable snub here. You also can't dismiss the chances of a wild card since the Saints have a long history of keeping undrafted rookie defensive tackles.
LINEBACKER (6): Demario Davis, Alex Anzalone, Zack Baun, Craig Robertson, Kiko Alonso, Kaden Elliss.
These are the "chalk" choices -- unless Alonso isn't fully healthy to start the season after tearing his ACL in early January.
SECONDARY (10): Marshon Lattimore, Janoris Jenkins, Marcus Williams, Malcolm Jenkins, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, P.J. Williams, Justin Hardee, J.T. Gray, Johnson Bademosi, Patrick Robinson
This position is a lot like wide receiver, with so many candidates for the final one or two spots. I went with Bademosi because of his special-teams prowess and Robinson because he could fill in as both a nickel cornerback and outside corner. But I could just as easily see XFL standout Deatrick Nichols, veteran safety D.J. Swearinger or second-year special-teams asset Saquan Hampton making the cut.
SPECIALISTS (3): Thomas Morstead, Wil Lutz, Zach Wood
Easy choices here with one of the NFL's best trios.