Will They or Won't They Make It?
OTAs are on the horizon, and there's plenty of Saints that made the roster in the past that could be looking for work elsewhere.
The NFL Draft is over. Teams have signed their UDFAs and are about to start minicamp for the rookies. Which means the boring part of the NFL Season is about to commence.
One slight bonus to this period of the NFL Offseason is that teams can sign free agents without giving up any compensatory picks they can receive for the next NFL Draft. But otherwise, many teams are nearly set on having their current roster go into OTAs, minicamp and eventually, Training Camp. And with camp coming along, there quite a few players on the roster that might be looking elsewhere.
The Saints have a few players that have made the team previously that could not be wearing a Saints jersey for quite a while. I will split these up based on offense, defense and special teams. I will give some description as to what they are and why their jobs are threatened. As well as the likelihood of them being waived/released. I also won’t include longshots. Just players that have made the team in the past or have played in the NFL already.
I also have no sources on this, I’m guessing based on the additions.
OFFENSE:
RB Eno Benjamin
Eno Benjamin was a late season addition in 2022 after he was waived a second time in that 2022 season. He was surprisingly waived by the Cardinals after a rather nice showing, claimed by the Texans, then waived again after a few weeks.
Eno Benjamin is a solid player. A bit undersized but can run the ball well enough and is pretty good at pass catching. He didn’t get much playing time when claimed by the Saints and didn’t get many snaps in a game where the season was pretty much over with.
Why Might He Be Released?
I don’t think he was liked much by the coaching staff given the lack of playing time. The lack of playing time is concerning. His competition so far is UDFA SaRoderick Thompson and 3rd Round Draft Pick Kendre Miller, who is still recovering from MCL surgery. Benjamin’s competition so far tilts in his favor, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they go resign Dwayne Washington or sign someone else between now and August.
Eno’s best chances are when Kamara gets suspended. Kamara’s trial is set for July 31st, to which training camp should be entering its second week with both veterans and rookies (probably). Unless the trial gets pushed back yet again, Kamara could miss time in camp and also have all this legal trouble be resolved soon. Meaning Goodell will lay down the punishment hammer and will levy six games against Kamara. IF/When that happens, Benjamin could make the team and get some snaps with the offense as a receiver.
Chances of Making the Team:
Likely; odds increase with a Kamara punishment.
WR Tre’Quan Smith:
I do not believe there is a Saints fan alive that is not sick and tired of Tre’Quan Smith. Part of the disappointing 2018 Draft class, Tre’Quan has been honestly wasted potential. He is quick and can-do damage after the catch. But he can’t separate, catch consistently, stay healthy or be anything more than a blocking receiver. He’s like a Dr. Thunder version of Robert Meachem.
Why He Might Be Released:
As I explained already, he doesn’t add anything as a receiver, just as a blocker. That’s why DA and Pete limited his snaps to running downs. His blocking is that good apparently. He had his chances to be a top 3 receiver for the Saints and blew it. He’s honestly a special teamer that can’t play special teams.
I get the feeling DA wants to release him. Just completely overhaul the receiving group. He added Bryan Edwards in free agency and got lucked into getting AT Perry in the sixth round. As of today, there are a total of twelve receivers on the team. Four of them are rookies. He wants to be rid of Payton’s Pet Projects. He might never be rid of Tre’Quan unless there’s a good blocker in that receiving group.
Chances of Making Team:
Very Likely.
OL Calvin Throckmorton and Lewis Kidd
This is a two for one because either one or the other will make it. Not Both. Calvin Throckmorton has been the main backup guard for the Saints the past two seasons. An UDFA from 2020 who played tackle in college but lacks the lateral agility to make it in the NFL. He’s been fine as a backup but has had to play many snaps due to injuries in 2021 and 2022.
Lewis Kidd is a versatile lineman who initially missed making the team in 2022 but did get on the practice squad. He was brought on in the middle of the season to the active roster due to injuries. He did play a few snaps and was fine. Many of which were special teams but he did line up at guard a few times and was fine.
Why One Would Get Released:
Calvin Throckmorton has led the team in false starts for two years in a row. In 2021, he was charged with four false starts, in 2022, five. A total of nine false starts. At some point, you should lose snaps and your job for constantly getting caught with false starts. Lewis Kidd is an okay player that offers versatility. He can play RT or either guard position. He’d be fine as a healthy scratch most of the time.
While there is Yasir Durant and Koda Martin there at guard, who both should beat pretty easily, the main threat is fourth round pick from Old Dominion, Nick Saldiveri. Saldiveri can play any of the positions on the offensive line and should compete to be a successor for Peat. He will compete for being the main backup guard should injuries arise yet again.
It will honestly come down to individual performances. Both need to be at the top of their game.
Chances of Making the Team:
Throckmorton: 50-50; Kidd - 49/51 against
OT Landon Young:
From the 2021 Draft Class, Landon Young is a solid backup tackle. Drafted in the Sixth round, he has been pretty reliable and well liked considering he gets plenty of playing time.
Why He Might Get Released:
Landon Young isn’t bad really. He played one game in his rookie year due to injuries and he tore his ACL. In 2022, he played a few snaps when the injuries struck again. He hasn’t been bad on a level previous back up tackles have been, but I wouldn’t roll with him as a starter. His main competition is Storm Norton who they signed in free agency. He should be able to beat him out as Norton is a right tackle while Young can play either spot.
Chances of Making the Team:
Pretty Good.
DEFENSE:
DE Payton Turner
The elephant in the room and the one literally everyone is going to pay attention to. Payton Turner, the first round pick of the 2021 Draft, has either been hurt or just amplifying why he should not have been a first round pick.
Why He Might Get Released:
Do you know how damning it is to have a front office staff member say that he is disappointed in you? Assistant GM Jeff Ireland spoke to media in January and when asked about Turner, he said it was pretty disappointing how he has been performing so far. In his rookie year, he recorded one sack and was hurt for the rest of the year. In his second year, he flashed in two games, got hurt, and was deemed a healthy scratch for the remaining three games of the season. That is pretty pathetic. Turner did say in an interview with Aaron Wilson that he finally feels healthy and is ready to prove himself. Do it then.
Turner is out of excuses. He can’t afford to be hurt or show little improvement. He needs to look like the first-round pick that the scouts and front office saw in him. He’s got a new DL coach this time, so there is absolutely no excuses Turner can hide behind. Put up or get the pick slip. Especially with second-round pick Isaiah Foskey looking to take snaps.
His future is tied to him making a third-year leap and playing well. I don’t know if he’ll have the leap in growth as Cesar Ruiz had last year, but it would be very welcome. I think Dennis Allen would love to be able to rotate his entire defensive line to always have a fresh set of players whenever he needed.
Chances of Making Team:
Not looking too good.
DT Malcolm Roach
This honestly feels like the biggest longshot to get released but there are clues littered about. Malcolm Roach is part of the 2020 UDFA Class and has been okay at defensive tackle. He made a step up in 2022 where he played fine and got some good snaps in at starter. He recently resigned with the Saints to a one-year deal.
Why He Might Get Released:
Malcolm Roach is a solid defensive tackle who can play the 3T. And I can see him being listed as initial starter since first-round pick Bryan Bresee and Nathan Shepherd are both new to the defense. Roach did sign a one-year deal that would have no dead money if released.
A lot of what could get him released is the performances of both Bresee and Shepherd. If both are healthy and perform very well, it would push Roach to being a healthy scratch should he remain on the team. What would get him released would probably the Saints finding a backup nose guard for Khalen Saunders. Tanoh Kpassgnon, who resigned with the team on a two-year deal, is capable of playing both on the edge and interior. This could leave Roach out to dry if the edge rush class of Turner and Foskey show out as well. Basically, his services would no longer be required for him to be released. So very low chance but would surprise some folks.
Chances of Making the Team:
Nearly Guaranteed
LB Zach Baun:
Similar to Roach, it feels like a longshot. Zach Baun is part of the ever-disappointing 2020 class that was wrecked by Covid. Baun was a 3-4 OLB specializing in pass rushing that got thrown to stand-up, drop back and cover LB and hasn’t worked out yet.
Why He Might Get Released:
You have to wonder at some point when it will all click. Baun is now in his fourth year with the team and has been no better than special teams linebacker. He didn’t fit as a WILL and couldn’t beat out Kaden Elliss for starting SAM. Now Elliss got a fat contract with a different team, leaving the SAM spot open for the taking. SAM feels right for Baun, just play the run and rush the passer. Both feel nice for Baun, like a glove.
Baun has a lot of competition with the backups and UDFAs but his biggest is the LB free agency pool. Go to any website with a good free agency tracker and there are plenty of players that can play the SAM. Kyle Van Noy, Anthony Barr, Myles Jack, you name it. If Dennis Allen is not impressed with the linebackers and how they are performing, you can bet there will be many tryouts. Enough to get him released? I don’t know, but I would not be shocked if it is a “rip the band-aid” moment.
Chances of Making the Team?
Nearly Guaranteed.
That’s pretty much it. There might be one or two I missed but it is a solid list, nonetheless.