The Who Dat Daily.Com

Big Q / Key Contributor

The New Orleans Saints finished the 2022 preseason with a 27-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, giving them an opportunity to evaluate what talent stays or go’s. The final cuts are currently underway as Head Coach Dennis Allen cuts down the 80 spots to the mandatory 53 man roster headed the Tuesday afternoon deadline. This was a very solid camp and preseason for alot of players so I don’t envy Dennis Allen’s job of making the final calls.

With that being said here’s is my attempt at the final 2022 New Orleans Saints Depth Chart headed into the upcoming regular season. Enjoy

Quarterbacks (2)

• (#2) Jameis Winston

• (#14) Andy Dalton

The New Orleans Saints QB job is in Jameis Winston hands riding into the 2022 season. Although Winston dealt with injuries during training camp, the presumption is he’ll be more than ready when the games count for real. Andy Dalton was signed to provide insurance for Jameis Winston in the off season and has been nothing short of stellar for the team during preseason.  QB Ian Book will be released and if he clears waivers would be a canidate for the practice squad.

Running Backs (5)

• (#41) Alvin Kamara

• (#5) Mark Ingram

• (#24) Dewayne Washington

• (#34) Tony Jones Jr

• (#46) Adam Prentice

We know the legal issues swirling around Kamara but as it stands he will be avaliable for the team at the very least early on. Mark Ingram has looked fresh and is showing he still has something in the tank. In a reduce role Ingram can still be an effect force as a complement back to Alvin Kamara. Dewayne Washington makes the team because of his special teams accument and If injuries occur can be used as an option in the running game. Tony Jones Jr is a young running back that ran hard doing camp, even returned some kicks he has proven to the team that he belongs on the roster. The fullback job was down to Prentice and versatile FB/HB JP Holz, I think the team goes with the more famliar player. RB Abram Smith was released according to Aaron Smith of NFL Network if he clears waivers the Saints are most certainly adding him to the practice squad.

Wide Receivers (6)

• (#13) Mike Thomas

• (#12) Chris Olave

• (#80) Jarvis Landry

• (#11) Deonte Harty

• (#1) Marquez Calloway

• (#85) Kirk Merritt

Much of the talk has been centered on Mike Thomas’s health. Is he finally ready to contribute on the field? The Saints have taken a conservative approach with Thomas and despite a recent hamstring injury, all indications point to him being ready for week one action against Atlanta. First round draft pick sensation Chris Olave has been absolutely fantastic in camp and preseason action. He is ready to contribute to the Saints offense as a compliment to Thomas as well a deep threat to blow the top of oppsing defenses. Proven veteran wide out Jarvis Landry will operate out of the slot for an reconstructed Saints WR room. Landry gives the team insurance if Thomas has a set back or if the Saints implement a slowed down ramped up approach. Deonte Harty reprizes his role as the teams key kick and punt returner. Harty is hoping to not only take a few of them to the house on special teams, but to contribute in the wide reciever room as well. Marquez Calloway will also help on special teams while providing depth at wide out. The sixth spot will be for versatile player Kirk Merritt. Merritt has been very consistent during camp and preseason action. Head Coach Dennis Allen has been using him as a running back, wide out and special team return man. I do belive he makes the team as offensive cordinator Pete Carmicheal has visions of him in the Ty Montogermery role. The remaining wide recievers Trequan Smith, Rasheed Shaheed & Dai’jean Dixon are options for the Saints practice squad.

Tight Ends (4)

• (#82) Adam Trautman

• (#7) Tysom Hill

• (#83) Juwan Johnson

• (#81) Nick Vannett

Adam Trautman has done a solid job this camp and preseason, even attending tightend camps to improve his techinique. With all the weapons the Saints have on offense Trautman can benefit the most. Jameis Winston likes to use his tightends so if Trautman shows his reliabilty he can have his best season to date statisically. Taysom Hill steps into the tightend room and can be a mismatch nightmare to oppsing defenses. The question is can Hill remain healthy during the year to have an positve impact. Juwan Johnson is due a solid year after making the transition from wide reciever to tight end. Johnson has the abilty but he must be more consistent. Nick Vanett appears to be sliding down the tightend order as rumors circulate about the team shopping him. He stays because of familiarity and no other veteran options.

Offensive Line (9)

• (#71) Ryan Ramczyk

• (#74) James Hurst

• (#75) Andrus Peat

• (#51) Caesar Ruiz

• (#78) Erik McCoy

• (#76) Calvin Throckmorton

• (#67) Landon Young

• (#72) Nick Martin

• (#66) Louis Kidd

The starters for the offensive line have been solid in action during the preseason. The questions is, if called on to do so, can the reserves come in and contribute in a positive fashion? The turf toe injury to 2022 first round draft pick o-lineman Trevor Penning is unfortunate and eventually the team will add him to the injury reserve. The rest of the reserve o-linemen: Derrick Kelly, Khalique Washington, Josh Andrews & Dereck Schweiger will have chances to be added to th teams practice squad. The team has the option to add players to the roster from cuts or free agency before tueday afternoon deadline.

Defensive Line (9)

• (#94) Cam Jordan

• (#92) Marcus Davenport

• (#93) David Onyemata

• (#99) Shy Tuttle

• (#98) Peyton Turner

• (#96) Carl Granderson

• (#90) Tanoh Kpassagnon

• (#91) Kentavious Street

• (#90) Malcolm Roach

The D-Line is one of the major strengths for the Saints headed into the 2022 year. The vesatility of the back ups will serve to keep stars like Cam Jordan whose coming off a 12.5 sack year, fresh so he can improve on those numbers. Davenport needs to remain healthy to keep steady pressure from the opposite side of the line along with the nascar package DE Payton Turner which would  terrify opposing offensives all year long. Remaining players like DL Albert Huggins was carted off in the last preseason game in which we anticipate will be a major season ending injury. Taco Charlton, Niko Lalos, Jordan Jackson and Jordan Black are practice squad additions once they clear waivers.

Linebackers (5)

• (#56) Demario Davis

• (#20) Pete Werner

• (#58) Eric Wilson

• (#55) Kaden Ellis

• (#47) Jon Bostic

The very steady Demario Davis leads this group into the season but his counterpart Pete Werner has been banged up. The talk is Werner should be okay for the start of the regular season, but if he isn’t the team did a great job adding veteran linebackers Eric Wilson & Jon Bostic. Kaden Ellis and Chase Hansen also have been solid in appearances this preseason. The New Orleans Saints 2022 fifth round pick linebacker Demarco Jackson was placed on IR earlier in camp. The squad looks to move on from former 3rd round draft pick Zack Baun who hasn’t lived up to expectations. Undrafted LB Nephi Sewell whose been solid in camp could easly land on the practice squad.

Secondary (10)

• (#23) Marshon Lattimore

• (#29) Paulson Adebo

• (#22) CJ Gardner

• (#32) Tyrann Mathieu

• (#6) Marcus Maye

• (#21) Bradley Roby

• (#27) Alontae Taylor

• (#26) PJ Williams

• (#30) Justin Evans

• (#48) JT Gray

This group is really impressive along with the addition of the free agents Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye. The maturation of 2nd year corner Paulson Adebo opposite of Lattimore will really elevate the level of the secondary. The drafting of Alontae Taylor provides depth and the lowkey signing of Justin Evans has been beyond positive. The rest of the defensive backs: DaMarcus Fields, Vincent Gray, Quentin Meeks, Brian Allen & Daniel Sorensen could very well lead to practice squad positions.

Special Teams

• (#3) Wil Lutz

• (#4) Blake Gillikin

• (#49) Zach Wood

• (#11) Deontay Harty

The return of all pro kicker Wil Lutz from injury will be a major factor in the success of the squads special teams. The team loss several contest last season due to poor kicking because Lutz’s injury so having him healthy is a major plus. Blake Gillikin continues to blast punts placing opposition return teams inside their twenties. Zack Wood has been very solid with Lutz and Gillikin. Deontay Harty will contribute as a returner and hopefully with improved blocking he can get a TD returns in the special teams.

SUMMARY

This years New Orleans Saints roster is a top 5 contending NFL team with major post season aspirations. The 2021 team was completely riddled with injuries and other maladies but still were able to capture 9 wins. Overall, I think with better fortune you can must certainly see this unit as a Superbowl winner. We will just have to wait and see. Stay tuned…

Saints OT Trevor Penning Out Indefinitely