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So this is interesting. With an extra day of preparation ahead of them before next Monday’s kickoff with the Seahawks, the New Orleans Saints stepped out of their bye week and invited seven free agents for a group tryout. The group is split on pretty clean lines between three linebackers and four offensive linemen. None of them have been signed just yet.
So what’s the deal? We know that linebacker Kwon Alexander is close to returning from injured reserve after hurting his elbow back in Week 1, and the team will need to open a roster spot to make room for him. There are other players who could be on the move at different positions like wide receiver and defensive back but there’s help coming there, too, so the Saints may have to keep their focus limited at linebacker.
Of the linebackers currently healthy and under contract, Demario Davis and Pete Werner dominate defensive snaps while Kaden Elliss gets in on certain packages. Zack Baun waits in reserve and Andrew Dowell really only plays special teams (a role in which he’s excelled, by the way). Baun won’t be exposed to waivers after being drafted highly last year, making Dowell the unfortunate odd man out. If he ends up being claimed by another team, the Saints probably want to know their options in replacing him on the practice squad, which explains these workouts.
As for the bevy of offensive line tryouts: there’s no clear and obvious reason for the interest. The Saints are expected to get starting center Erik McCoy and All-Pro left tackle Terron Armstead back soon to reassemble their starting five. Their backups (James Hurst and Landon Young at tackle, Will Clapp and Calvin Throckmorton at guard) haven’t embarrassed themselves when asked to start. But great teams are always keeping an interest in churning the bottom of the depth chart, and it makes sense to look for better options than Jordan Mills and Caleb Benenoch on the practice squad.
Here’s a quick look at the seven free agent tryouts from Monday: