NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints open the 2024 NFL regular season against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 8 at Caesars Superdome.
The Saints head into the season after a summer of questions regarding their 2017 draft class. Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk was recently put on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, contract issues with running back Alvin Kamara and trade rumors regarding cornerback Marshon Lattimore have been some of the key issues they've faced this offseason.
The biggest addition to the roster is pass rusher Chase Young, who signed in free agency before undergoing an offseason neck procedure. Young's health status will be another key question going forward.
The offensive line will be the biggest shakeup in 2024 with Ramczyk sidelined, as the Saints are deciding on as many as three starting spots. The backup quarterback race, and whether the Saints choose to keep both young quarterbacks, will be another battle to watch.
Here is the 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (4): Derek Carr, Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, Taysom Hill
Keeping four quarterbacks on the roster is almost unheard of, but Hill is a quarterback in name only, so he'll make the roster again in his do-it-all role. The Saints likely aren't going to give up on 2023 fourth-round pick Haener after a year, especially with his great offseason, so he and rookie Rattler will both get spots on the active roster this year. This makes veteran Nathan Peterman the odd man out on the 53.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Jamaal Williams
Kamara's status is somewhat up in the air after he skipped the final practice of minicamp because of a contract dispute, but it's hard to imagine that the issue won't be resolved by the time the season opens. Williams didn't have a great year in 2023, but the Saints didn't sign another major free agent here, leaving this position the same as last year. Don't count out Jordan Mims as a practice squad candidate or special teamer.
FULLBACK (1): Adam Prentice
Prentice has been with the team since 2021 and his only competition right now is Zander Horvath. Both are similar ages and have similar salaries (Prentice counts $1.13 million against the cap this year), so it'll really come down to who performs better in training camp. Prentice gets the leg up for now because of his familiarity with the team, but it should be noticed they have been using Hill at fullback at times during practice. That could make the position expendable.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Bub Means, Cedrick Wilson Jr., A.T. Perry, Equanimeous St. Brown
Olave is the clear No. 1 wideout with Michael Thomas now gone, and Shaheed will return as both a kick returner and wide receiver. Newcomers Means and Wilson and second-year veteran Perry round out the guaranteed spots. The last spot is up for grabs, and it's not a sure thing they even keep six. Stanley Morgan Jr. has been working back from an injury, so this spot goes to St. Brown for now, but that could change if someone else excels in camp.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, Dallin Holker
Johnson was sidelined during minicamp because of a foot issue, but it's not expected to keep him out of the regular season. He'll stay on the active roster, along with veteran Moreau. Undrafted rookie free agent Holker will get to take advantage of Johnson's reps until he returns to practice, and that will be enough to secure him a roster spot.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Taliese Fuaga, Trevor Penning, Nick Saldiveri, Landon Young, Olisaemeka Udoh, Lucas Patrick, Shane Lemieux
Former All-Pro RT Ramczyk will miss the entire season after the Saints put him on Reserve/PUP due to a potentially career-threatening knee injury, leaving the door open for Penning to slide into his former spot. Fuaga will be given every opportunity to start at LT, while McCoy and Ruiz will return to their starting spots this season. Veterans Udoh and Patrick both have position flexibility and Lemieux would compete for a spot at guard. That leaves seventh-round pick Josiah Ezirim out of an active roster spot for now, but that's certainly not set in stone depending on his camp performance.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Cameron Jordan, Chase Young, Isaiah Foskey, Carl Granderson, Payton Turner, Bryan Bresee, Khalen Saunders, Nathan Shepherd, Khristian Boyd
Jordan, the team's all-time sack leader, will return for a 14th season. Young, a free agent signing, will be part of the rotation depending on his health status, and Granderson will also get significant playing time. The big questions are Turner and Foskey, who have yet to prove themselves at defensive end. Defensive tackle feels more set with Bresee, Saunders and Shepherd returning, and Boyd, a sixth-round pick, will get the fourth and final spot there. Tanoh Kpassagnon will be starting the season on the PUP list at a minimum, leaving the door open for another player.
LINEBACKERS (5): Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Willie Gay, D'Marco Jackson, Jaylan Ford
Davis and Werner return as the starters and Gay, a free-agent signee, will rotate in to get playing time. Jackson played a special teams role in 2023, so he'll possibly get another spot on that alone. Rookie sixth-round pick Ford will round out the group. Nephi Sewell tore his ACL late last season, so he'll go on the PUP list for now, depending on how fast he can make his return.
CORNERBACKS (5): Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alontae Taylor, Shemar Jean-Charles
The Saints appear to be moving forward with Lattimore after they appeared to clear the air at minicamp after an offseason of training camp. That means he'll go back into his starting role. Lattimore, Adebo and Taylor should all get significant snaps, while the Saints will likely figure out a way to get second-round pick McKinstry playing time. Jean-Charles makes the roster as a backup and special teams player.
SAFETIES (5): Tyrann Mathieu, Johnathan Abram, Jordan Howden, J.T. Gray, Will Harris
Abram moves into the spot vacated by Marcus Maye, who was released earlier in the offseason. Howden should compete for playing time in his second year, however, and Gray is a key cog in the special teams unit. Harris gets the final spot because of his five seasons in the league and experience at multiple positions (safety, nickel, outside and special teams), which is something the Saints value. While Harris beats out Ugo Amadi for the final spot, Amadi played some solid snaps as a backup at the end of last season, and he can also play special teams. He shouldn't be counted out.
SPECIALISTS (3): Zach Wood (LS), Lou Hedley (P), Blake Grupe (K)
The only real question is whether Grupe beats out Charlie Smyth, who joins the Saints as part of the International Player Pathway. The Saints already went through growing pains last year with Grupe and Hedley joining as rookies, so it would make more sense to go with Grupe in Year 2 unless Smyth is significantly better.