The New Orleans Saints will have more starting battles than usual when they open training camp on July ?? at their practice facility in Metairie, Louisiana. They will have at least eight new starters in 2021 after quarterback Drew Brees retired and several others became salary-cap casualties. The Saints did, however, make it a priority to retain most of their elite players while aiming for a fifth straight NFC South title. Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, Ian Book
The biggest question here (and on the entire roster) is whether Winston or Hill will earn top billing as New Orleans' first new starting quarterback in 16 years. But it will also be interesting to see if the Saints elect to keep four quarterbacks. Sean Payton has talked up veteran backup Trevor Siemian a few times this offseason, and the Saints might want to have Siemian available on game days if they don't feel that rookie fourth-round draft pick Book is ready and they want to keep using Hill in his versatile QB/RB/TE/WR role.
RUNNING BACK (4): Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, Ty Montgomery, Dwayne Washington
There is room for a young player to emerge like second-year pro Tony Jones Jr. or undrafted rookie Stevie Scott III. But Washington has been a core special teams player for several years and Montgomery showed value last year as a versatile runner and receiver.
FULLBACK (1): Alex Armah
One of New Orleans' few veteran free-agent signings this offseason, the fifth-year pro should lock down a role as a replacement for the departed Michael Burton.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Tre'Quan Smith, Deonte Harris, Marquez Callaway, Juwan Johnson, Chris Hogan. *Michael Thomas.
The Saints are uncomfortably thin on proven talent at this position, since they released veteran Emmanuel Sanders in the spring and Michael Thomas is expected to miss time at the beginning of the season. There is a good chance that Thomas will begin the year on an injury list, but he would need to make the initial 53-man roster to be eligible for short-term injured reserve. (If they keep Thomas on the PUP list, he would have to miss at least six weeks.) Smith, Harris and Callaway should be locks. Johnson is cross-training at tight end, which could help his chances. Rookie seventh-round pick Kawaan Baker is among several other young contenders.
TIGHT END (3): Adam Trautman, Nick Vannett, Garrett Griffin
Undrafted rookie Dylan Soehner has a shot after the Saints gave him a nice $100,000 signing bonus. And there are vacancies after the Saints parted ways with veterans Jared Cook and Josh Hill. But quarterback Hill, fullback Armah and receiver Johnson all have the versatility to fill in here if needed.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramczyk, Andrus Peat, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, James Hurst, Landon Young, Will Clapp, Ethan Greenidge
Clapp and Greenidge have earned roles in the past, and Young was drafted in the sixth round. But there should still be plenty of competition for those last few roster spots from third-year pro Derrick Kelly, second-year pro Calvin Throckmorton and others.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport, Payton Turner, Malcolm Roach, Shy Tuttle, Carl Granderson, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Josiah Bronson, Jalen Dalton, *David Onyemata (suspended)
This is the most wide-open battle on the roster after the Saints parted ways with veterans Malcom Brown, Sheldon Rankins and Trey Hendrickson, then lost Onyemata to a suspension for the first six games. And New Orleans' history suggest this could be the best chance for an undrafted rookie to make the squad. I went with undrafted rookie Bronson (who got a healthy $140,000 signing bonus).
LINEBACKER (5): Demario Davis, Zack Baun, Pete Werner, Kaden Elliss, Chase Hansen
Baun and Werner are competing for a starting job at weakside linebacker after the Saints parted ways with veterans Kwon Alexander and Alex Anzalone. A sixth linebacker could easily make the roster -- especially if he proves valuable on special teams.
SECONDARY (10): Marshon Lattimore, Marcus Williams, Malcolm Jenkins, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Brian Poole, P.J. Williams, J.T. Gray, Patrick Robinson, Paulson Adebo, Keith Washington Jr.
The Saints agreed to a deal with Poole this week. But his specialty is playing inside the slot -- which is also true of Gardner-Johnson and Robinson. So either one of them will move outside to replace former starter Janoris Jenkins, or the Saints could still look to add more veteran help before the season starts. There is also room here for a young player to earn his way onto the roster through special teams after the Saints lost stellar coverage specialist Justin Hardee Sr. in free agency.
SPECIALISTS (3): Blake Gillikin, Wil Lutz, Zach Wood
The Saints will also have a new punter for the first time in 12 years after releasing Thomas Morstead. Gillikin has the edge over undrafted rookie Nolan Cooney after Gillikin spent last year being groomed on injured reserve.