The Saints have already shown they’re willing to move fast when a roster problem starts staring them in the face.
After that embarrassing loss to the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans traded for RB Zamir White, giving itself a depth piece in the backfield, and signed kicker Daniel Carlson, who immediately became the favorite to win the starting job. That’s a much different feel from the old approach, when the Saints seemed to wait too long to address issues that were plain to see. The kicking mess last season is part of that history, and it sounds like the lesson has been learned.
If New Orleans keeps working the phones before 53-man roster cuts, there are a few more moves that fit the moment.
One is signing guard James Daniels, if he’s open to coming in as a backup. That’s the key detail.
The Saints’ offensive line depth is already shaky because of injuries and uneven play, and Daniels would bring real experience to the room. Dillon Radunz was supposed to be that kind of stabilizing depth piece, but he’ll miss the entire season.
Daniels has played both center and guard during his career, which gives the Saints flexibility if injuries hit, and that’s the kind of insurance they badly need. He’s also coming off his own injury stretch, so a cheaper prove-it deal for one year would make sense - as long as he’s okay not starting.
Tight end is another spot that needs help in a hurry. The Saints’ room there has been hit hard by injuries, even though Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant remain healthy at the top.
Oscar Delp is dealing with a hamstring issue, and Moliki Matavao was just placed on IR. With Kellen Moore wanting to lean more on tight ends this season, New Orleans needs a third body it can trust.
Jonnu Smith fits that bill as a veteran who is still athletic at 31.
The quarterback situation is the other obvious pressure point. Zach Wilson had one good game and one bad one.
Spencer Rattler has been bad in both. What started as an intriguing competition has turned into something much tougher to watch.
If the final preseason game looks like what the Saints just saw against the Rams, they’ll have to take a hard look at where this is going.
Tyler Shough is the clear starter, so New Orleans does not need to carry three quarterbacks this year. If Wilson and Rattler are close, the better move is to keep Wilson, who has been the better performer overall this offseason, and trade Rattler. Even with the rough preseason results, Rattler may still have the higher value around the league, and the Saints should try to get something back for him.
In Other News...
Kellen Moore Sounds Just Like Saints Fans On This Strange LSU Move
Zxavian Harris never got the chance to suit up for the Saints after landing on the NFI list, and now the former undrafted free agent is heading back to college football with LSU. The move is an unusual one on its face, but it fits into a broader trend of players who have taken a step into the pro game and then found their way back to campus, with Harris part of the 2022 high school class granted a fifth year of eligibility.
Kellen Moores reaction sounded a lot like the one plenty of Saints fans probably had when the news surfaced, because the whole path raises questions about how these decisions are handled and how much regulation really exists around them. For New Orleans, it is another reminder that roster-building and player movement are not always clean, linear processes, especially when a young players career can veer back toward college after already entering the NFL orbit. [Read more 🡒]
Three Saints Have Forced Their Way Into The Roster Conversation
With the preseason winding down against Dallas, the Saints have a few roster decisions that suddenly look a lot less straightforward than they did a few weeks ago. Bub Means, Jayden Price and Jaylan Ford have all taken advantage of their chances in camp and preseason action, forcing the coaching staff to take a hard look at where they fit heading into cutdown day.
Means has come back from injury and immediately made noise, leading New Orleans in receiving yards in the preseason opener. Price has helped himself in the secondary with steady play and an interception, while Ford has stood out at linebacker with tackles and a pick, enough to factor into the Saints decision-making and even help prompt the trade of a veteran linebacker. The final preseason game should tell the rest of the story, but all three have already done plenty to change the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Saints May Have Finally Fixed A Problem Fans Know Too Well
The Saints spent another offseason trying to settle one of the quieter but most frustrating issues on their roster, and this time they may have found a real answer. Ryan Wright arrives in New Orleans after four seasons with the Vikings, where he entered the league as an undrafted punter in 2022 and quickly established himself as one of the more reliable legs in the NFL.
For a team that has dealt with too much turnover and uncertainty at punter since Thomas Morstead moved on, Wrights four-year contract signals a real commitment to stability. New Orleans has been searching for a clean fix in a spot most fans only notice when it goes wrong, and Wright gives the Saints a chance to finally stop treating the position like a yearly problem to solve. [Read more 🡒]