METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints open the 2022 NFL regular season at the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 11 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Saints are in a better position than they were last summer with their starting quarterback set and a deeper roster of corners and wide receivers.
The biggest question now are the linebackers, where a lack of depth has led to numerous searches to fill out that room. It's one of the positions the Saints will likely be trying to look at even after the initial cutdown.
Some relative unknowns have also made their cases to make the roster, like wide receiver/running back Kirk Merritt and linebacker Nephi Sewell.
The Saints love to shuffle things around the first week, so someone who makes the roster initially might not stick around and vice versa.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton
It feels safe to say the Saints can roll with two quarterbacks at this point -- assuming Winston bounces back from an ACL injury that ended his 2021 season last Halloween -- and try to get Ian Book on the practice squad after his less-than-stellar preseason outings. The Saints have often carried three quarterbacks, partially because they needed another player in the fold if Taysom Hill got hurt while playing in his various roles. But now that Hill is no longer a quarterback, there's no need to waste a roster spot here.
RUNNING BACK (5): Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram II, Dwayne Washington, Tony Jones Jr., Kirk Merritt
Undrafted rookie Abram Smith held down the fourth running back spot initially, but Smith didn't shine enough in training camp to secure that spot. Jones has earned that spot with some nice plays on special teams and more consistency in the preseason. Washington, provided his injury doesn't linger, will get a role again on special teams as he has for many years, and Merritt has been a nice surprise at receiver before the Saints switched him to running back. They're clearly looking for a role for him, and while he could end up on the practice squad, a Ty Montgomery type role could get him on that initial roster.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, Jarvis Landry, Deonte Harty, Tre'Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway
Smith, who wasn't a lock to make the roster but had an edge due to his blocking ability, left Friday's preseason finale early after landing awkwardly on his shoulder area. If Smith's injury isn't long-term, he would have to be carried on the initial 53-man roster to be able to return later in the season
TIGHT END (4): Taysom Hill, Adam Trautman, Nick Vannett, Juwan Johnson
Vannett was the biggest question here, but the Saints likely need to keep a blocking tight end considering Hill and Johnson are both converted tight ends that need to improve in that area. There's no fullback on this initial 53-man roster, as the Saints could keep one on the practice squad, but if Adam Prentice isn't the guy, it's possible J.P. Holtz could replace Vannett as a dual tight end/fullback, saving a roster spot. For now, neither stays on initially.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Ryan Ramczyk, Erik McCoy, Andrus Peat, Cesar Ruiz, James Hurst, Trevor Penning, Calvin Throckmorton, Landon Young
Penning, a first-round pick this year, is a lock to make the roster but his status is unknown after he left Friday's game on a cart. Other than that, the Saints don't have any surprises here unless they want to keep one more body around for depth. Tackle Lewis Kidd and center Nick Martin would be two candidates, although Ruiz can play center if McCoy gets hurt.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport, David Onyemata, Payton Turner, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Carl Granderson, Shy Tuttle, Kentavius Street, Malcolm Roach
Roach was initially left off this list earlier in the summer, but his name has come up constantly this summer for good and bad reasons. Roach committed a key personal foul penalty in the second preseason game against Green Bay Packers, but he also had a number of good plays as well. Roach definitely had his down moments, but his upside will keep him on the roaster. Rookie sixth-round pick Jordan Jackson doesn't make the roster for now, and neither does defensive end Taco Charlton.
LINEBACKER (6): Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Kaden Elliss, Nephi Sewell, Eric Wilson, Andrew Dowell
Dowell makes the roster here as a special teams player. Chase Hansen could have had a chance after being re-signed, but his injury makes things complicated. Zack Baun was one of the trickier cuts here, but ultimately he didn't do enough in camp. The problem here is the lack of depth, especially with Werner nursing an injury. That might lead to the Saints keeping some extra linebackers, like undrafted rookie Sewell, who has been running with the first team, and veteran Eric Wilson. Jon Bostic is another veteran who could possibly end up re-signed if the Saints don't try to claim someone off waivers or make a trade.
CORNERBACK (4): Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Bradley Roby, Alontae Taylor
This is really like keeping four corners since safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson also plays the nickel. Bryce Thompson had a chance to make this roster before he was hurt, but otherwise there are no surprises. Justin Evans made a strong case for himself and could end up on the roster after injuries shake out, but for now, Merritt took the final spot.
SAFETY (6): Tyrann Mathieu, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Marcus Maye, J.T. Gray, P.J. Williams, Daniel Sorensen
Sorensen would be the last DB to make the roster and will do it purely for his special teams play. That would be his main role with Mathieu and Maye becoming the new starters this season.
SPECIALISTS (3): K Wil Lutz, P Blake Gillikin, LS Zach Wood
The Saints can rest easy here for the first time in months. Lutz is healthy again and booting 59-yard field goals to show it, while Gillikin is punting as well as ever. If the Saints can get through this season without the kicking issues that plagued them last year, they'll be in good shape.