The Saints are about to hit training camp, and while there isn’t much drama attached to the starting lineup, there are still a few jobs that could swing the shape of the season. The biggest questions aren’t about headline-grabbing quarterback battles. They’re about the spots where depth, reliability, and consistency will matter most.
Three position fights stand out above the rest: running back, interior defensive line, and kicker. None of them is simple, and each one gives the coaching staff a real decision to make.
At running back, the top of the depth chart is settled, but the fight for RB3 is wide open. Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara have the first two spots locked in, leaving Devin Neal, Kendre Miller, and Audric Estime to battle for what amounts to the last guaranteed roster place.
The Saints have been hit hard by injuries and have leaned on three backs often, which only raises the stakes here. Miller brings the explosive element, Neal offers the most complete game, and Estime is the power option.
That mix should make this one of the most closely watched competitions in camp.
The interior defensive line has a similar feel. Bryan Bresee is the only player with a clear hold on a spot, but Brandon Staley still needs to sort out who lines up next to him as the primary running mate.
Christen Miller, Vernon Broughton, and Nathan Shepherd are the names in the mix. All three can help against the run and as pass rushers, and the edge may come down to simple steadiness.
Whoever holds up best snap after snap should have the inside track.
Then there’s kicker, and this one is more than the usual summer formality. Charlie Smyth and former UFL kicker Tanner Brown are in a true battle, not just the standard setup of a veteran starter versus an undrafted challenger.
Both have strong legs. Both have had their issues too.
The key stretch figures to be the 25-45 yard range, where misses are costly and makes are mandatory. The player who connects more often there should win the job and likely open the season as the week-one starter.
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