Jayden Price has done enough in Saints camp to get people talking, but the hard part is still ahead.
New Orleans has turned its cornerback room into one of the more intriguing position groups on the roster this offseason. Kool-Aid McKinstry looks like the obvious CB1, Quincy Riley appears to have the CB2 job, and Jonas Sanker has settled into the slot.
On paper, that gives the Saints a trio with plenty of upside. In reality, it also comes with a lot of uncertainty, since each player is still unproven.
And if injuries hit the safety group, Sanker could have to slide back to his rookie spot, which would leave the Saints needing another answer.
That’s where Price comes in.
Through camp, he has been one of the more consistent defenders on the field. He’s held up well in coverage and has already forced turnovers, while also looking comfortable in Brandon Staley’s star role.
That kind of versatility matters, especially for a player trying to carve out a depth role at slot. If Sanker has to move, or if an injury opens the door, Price looks like the kind of option who can step in without forcing the Saints to completely reshuffle things.
The team’s first preseason depth chart added another layer to the picture. Price was listed behind Sanker, which is notable because he can line up both outside and in the slot.
The placement suggests the Saints may view him as the current backup at slot. It also matters that he was listed ahead of rookie Lorenzo Styles Jr., which could point to Price being the present option while Styles Jr. is seen more as a longer-term piece.
There’s also a special teams angle here. Price can help in the return game, and the Saints are coming off a season in which that area was a struggle. Having more usable pieces there could help clean up one of last year’s problem spots.
Still, none of this means Price has a job locked up. The roster spots are limited, Styles Jr. will keep pushing, and practice production only goes so far until the preseason games begin. The Saints have seen enough to keep Price in the mix, but the evaluations are still fluid, and his roster case is far from settled.
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The roster math is only getting tighter because several players have been slowed by injuries or practice restrictions, limiting how much of a case they can make before the preseason games start to matter. For a team trying to sort out reserve roles across multiple position groups, that makes every snap against Jacksonville useful and every mistake costly. The Saints may not be revealing their full hand yet, but the opener should at least clarify which camp standouts are starting to separate themselves from the pack. [Read more 🡒]
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For New Orleans, the appeal is pretty straightforward: a player with some versatility, some pass-rushing juice and a chance to carve out a spot in the rotation if he can hold up through camp. The challenge is just as clear, though, because the Saints are still sorting through a crowded competition and Saunders will have to do more than flash to stick on the final roster. [Read more 🡒]