NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints' 2025 training camp runs from Wednesday to Aug. 28 at their facility in Metairie, Louisiana, and at the University of Irvine in Irvine, California.
This will be the first training camp run by coach Kellen Moore, who was hired in February. Moore's hiring is just one of many changes for the Saints this offseason, as they'll also enter the season with a new quarterback following the unexpected retirement of Derek Carr in May.
Carr's retirement opens the door for a young quarterback to take the starting job, like second-year player Spencer Rattler or rookie Tyler Shough. Those two, along with third-year quarterback Jake Haener, will battle for the starting and backup roles in training camp this summer.
Here's a closer look at what we are watching at camp:
Who wins the quarterback battle?
This will be the most scrutinized storyline of camp, as the Saints have not had a true quarterback battle since Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill competed for the starting role in 2021. The Saints have an inexperienced room: None of the quarterbacks have won an NFL game as a starter, a drastic change from their previous philosophy of bringing in a veteran starter. The team has been looking for their long-term solution at quarterback since Drew Brees retired following the 2020 season. The winner of this competition and how they perform this season could shape the Saints' long-term outlook under Moore.
Three players to watch
LG Trevor Penning. The 2022 first-round pick has started, been benched, changed offensive line coaches multiple times and moved all around the line. Penning started as an offensive tackle, and now he'll get another chance after being moved to guard. He has been playing left guard at OTAs and minicamp. The Saints have used their first-round picks on tackles the past two years, so a move inside is likely Penning's last shot to remain in a starting role.
DE Cameron Jordan. The Saints' franchise sack leader (121.5) is entering his 15th season and reworked his contract to be heavily incentive-based this year, after combining for six sacks the past two seasons. Jordan was vocally disappointed with his usage and playtime last season; however, he just turned 36 and has a new group of coaches and a new scheme. How the coaches use him in camp will be a sign of things to come this season, good or bad.
RB Kendre Miller. Miller, a 2023 third-round pick, never seemed to click with former Saints coach Dennis Allen and played in only six games last season. Moore said that he told the team that everyone has a blank slate this year with the new coaching staff. This will be a critical offseason for Miller to see if he can take advantage of that and earn playing time in 2025.
Key position battles
Cornerback. The Saints moved on from both of last season's starting outside corners (Marshon Lattimore was traded to the Commanders, Paulson Adebo signed with the Giants). While second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is assumed to hold down one of the outside spots, who takes the other spots? The Saints re-signed Isaac Yiadom after a one-year absence and drafted Quincy Riley. There's also Alontae Taylor, who has been moved around the field in his three-year career and is expected to be a versatile piece this season.
Defensive tackle. There could be an odd man out at defensive tackle this season with Staley's plans to run a base 3-4 defense. They picked Vernon Broughton in the third round of the draft this year and acquired Davon Godchaux in a trade with the New England Patriots. That leaves former first-round pick Bryan Bresee, who started 11 games last season, as well as veterans Khalen Saunders (10 starts in 2024) and Nathan Shepherd (13 starts in 2024). There will not only be competition for playing time here, but also there could be competition just to make the roster in a crowded room.
Kicker. Charlie Smyth came to the Saints from Northern Ireland last year as part of the International Player Pathway and immediately showed he had a strong leg, but he spent the year on the practice squad after Blake Grupe won the job. Grupe should be the frontrunner again going into his third season, but both he and Smyth had an impressive minicamp, with both making 61-yard field goals. That'll make it an under-the-radar but fun competition to watch.
Keep an eye on: What happens to Taysom Hill?
The jack-of-all-trades Hill and tight end Foster Moreau both sustained knee injuries last season. Moreau was at every practice at OTAs and minicamp as an observer, while Hill has only been spotted watching one practice in minicamp. Hill, who could start the season on the PUP list as he continues to recover from a torn ACL in his left knee, has an $18 million salary cap hit this season. But the question remains, does he see the field this year? And if so, when?
53-man roster projections
Offense
QB (2): Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler
RB (4): Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Devin Neal
WR (6): Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, Bub Means, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Dante Pettis
TE (4): Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, Jack Stoll, Moliki Matavao
OL (9): Erik McCoy, Kelvin Banks Jr., Cesar Ruiz, Taliese Fuaga, Trevor Penning, Landon Young, Will Clapp, Dillon Radunz, Nick Saldiveri
Defense
DL (10): Cameron Jordan, Chase Young, Carl Granderson, Isaiah Foskey, Jonah Williams, Bryan Bresee, Davon Godchaux, Vernon Broughton, Khalen Saunders, Jonathan Bullard
LB (5): Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Danny Stutsman, D'Marco Jackson, Nephi Sewell
CB (5): Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alontae Taylor, Isaac Yiadom, Quincy Riley, Rico Payton
S (5): Tyrann Mathieu, Justin Reid, Jordan Howden, Jonas Sanker, J.T. Gray
Special Teams (3): Zach Wood (LS), Blake Grupe (K), Matthew Hayball (P)