2020 Saints roster locks, long-shots, and those on the roster bubble

The New Orleans Saints have assembled a talented 90-man roster for the 2020 season, but which players are locks, long shots, and on the edge

The New Orleans Saints are at capacity with their 90-man roster, set to carry a talented group of players through the summer and into training camp. But just 53 of them will be retained for the season’s opening kickoff, with a dozen players hoping to clear waivers and return on the practice squad (per new CBA rules, two practice squad players each week may be promoted to the active roster on game days. It’s more confusing than it needs to be).

But which Saints players are in best position to make the team? Which of them are out on the fringe, on the roster bubble? And who faces the longest odds of making the cut? Here’s a position-by-position preview, starting with the quarterbacks:

Quarterbacks

Locks:

  • Drew Brees
  • Taysom Hill
  • Jameis Winston

On the bubble:

  • Tommy Stevens

The top three passers are locked in, with Hill and Winston setting themselves up to compete for the starting job once Brees has spun his last football in New Orleans. It’s as impressive a depth chart you’ll find around the NFL, regardless of position. How many teams can say their third-stringer is a Heisman Trophy winner?

Stevens is a curiosity. If he can do an admirable job filling in for Hill as a runner and receiver (and maybe on special teams), he might stick around on the 53-man roster. He might pass through waivers and land on the practice squad, but it doesn’t feel like the Saints traded back into the draft just to give up on him after a few weeks in training camp.

Redskins’ rookies are being forced to change how they learn the playbook

With team facilities shut down, rookies in Washington are being forced to change how they interact with teammates and learn the playbook.

It’s always tough to be a rookie in the NFL, trying to adapt to your life as it changes around you, and working to learn a new system and perform at the best of your abilities while the world around you watches intently, ready to call you out for any minor misstep.

For this new class of rookies, however, the learning curve will be a bit steeper than others, as they are forced to adapt to a changing NFL landscape that has the entire future up in the air, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. While most rookies are asked to spend hours in the team facility grinding through the playbook and working on their craft, this crop of rookies is asked to do it on their own.

“It’s just different,” Redskins tight end Thaddeus Moss said, via Redskin.com. “It’s just a whole lot different [way of] learning football.”

The weeks after the draft are usually spent meeting fellow teammates and coaching staff for most rookies, getting to take part in rookie minicamp, and eventually OTA’s. This year, however, team facilities have been shut down, and Moss admitted that the first time he got to interact with his teammates was via a video call.

“I’ve had to change just the way I’m learning this playbook. [It’s] just a learning curve, learning how to learn and learning how to study differently going from college to the NFL,” Moss said.

There’s a growing belief that things may be progressing in the league, and facilities may start to open up over the next month or so, allowing teams to get together and learn the new system. Until then, though, Zoom meetings and note-taking will have to do.

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Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson working virtually with draft picks

The coronavirus pandemic isn’t stopping Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who is working virtually with Seattle draft picks.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is busy leading his team from a distance. Wilson spoke with 710 ESPN Seattle on Tuesday when he jumped on with host Jake Heaps, who is down in California training the signal-caller.

“Russell Wilson just took my mic from me and he’s so outraged that he heard this conversation and had to come say something,” Heaps said of the interview.

Wilson was asked about the virtual offseason and how things were working out in the new digital training world.

“In terms of the rookies, I’m in a group message with all of the draft picks, so we’re having a good time getting those guys ready,” Wilson said. “We’ve spent a lot of time – hours upon hours. I spend about two hours with them every day.

“We’ve been putting the work in, so they’re way ahead, so it’s been good.”

The Seahawks, like the rest of the teams around the league, won’t be able to return to Virginia Mason Athletic Center until they meet the strict standards set out by the NFL to ensure the safe opening of club facilities.

Until then, Wilson will continue to mentor his rookies however he can.

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3 critical questions for the Saints to answer in their 2020 training camp

The Saints look towards their 2020 training camp with question marks along the offensive line, at linebacker, and in the receiving corps.

It sure feels like New Orleans Saints training camp is a lifetime away, but it’ll be here before we know it. And when the black and gold gather for a month-long workout under the grueling Metairie sun, it’s safe to say that the coaching staff will have some questions weighing heavily on their minds.

We have three of those problems already written down in pen, circled, and highlighted. These are the most important issues facing the Saints this season, and they won’t even sniff Super Bowl LV if they don’t solve each problem before September. New Orleans must act quickly to gets its 2020 rookie class on the same page as its veteran pickups and the nucleus of players returning from the 2019 team.

Who starts at center and guard?

Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans sent both guards to the Pro Bowl last year, but the Saints offensive line got even deeper in the 2020 draft by picking Michigan center Cesar Ruiz. While Andrus Peat is entrenched at left guard (having signed a five-year contract extension earlier in the offseason), the center and right guard spots are all but settled. If anything, they might be the most competitive roster battles we’ll see in training camp.

Ruiz and Erik McCoy, the incumbent, will both compete for the right to start at center. They’ll also work into the lineup at right guard, three-time Pro Bowl alternate Larry Warford is entering the final year of his contract (which carries the second-highest salary cap charge for the Saints this year, behind Drew Brees). With just those two spots available, the Saints will be benching either a draft pick selected in the first two rounds of the last two drafts or one of their best free agent acquisitions.

It’s possible Warford gets traded to help make that decision easier. Moving him would allow the Saints to work around the salary cap a little easier, while also getting both Ruiz and McCoy on the field together. While McCoy was graded very well by Pro Football Focus in 2019, Ruiz is one of the best center prospects in years — his college coach allowed him to make all the line calls for the Wolverines, and credited Ruiz with getting it right “99% of the time.”

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Position competitions awaiting Packers’ top draft picks

Breaking down the position competitions awaiting the Packers’ top picks, including Jordan Love, A.J. Dillon, Josiah Deguara and Kamal Martin.

The Green Bay Packers made nine draft picks in the 2020 NFL draft. All nine rookies will have an opportunity to make the 53-man roster to start the regular season, but each player will face a real competition within their specific position group.

Here are the competitions awaiting the Packers’ draft picks:

Jordan Love vs. Tim Boyle

Jordan Love Tim Boyle

Barring an injury to Aaron Rodgers, the competition at quarterback will come down to the backup role. Boyle, now entering Year 3, will have a significant experience advantage, even if he’s only played in a handful of regular season games. Love is supremely talented, with edges over Boyle in both arm talent and athleticism, but he’s also raw and about to face a massive jump in competition, complicating his readiness to play as a rookie. A truncated offseason won’t help Love’s cause. Boyle knows the offense and has a lively arm, and he’s improved each of his first two seasons. Keeping three quarterbacks on the roster is entirely possible if Boyle emerges as the safer option behind Rodgers in 2020.

A.J. Dillon vs. Jamaal Williams

More than likely, Dillon will enter the NFL ready to play right away. The 247-pounder is big, physical and experienced, with three years of work as the primary ball-carrier at Boston College. Still, Dillon’s path to playing time is complicated. Aaron Jones is a star, and Williams is a trusted backup who can play on all three downs. Do the Packers have enough snaps and carries to split between three backs? Cutting into Jones’ snaps shouldn’t be an option, so Dillon may have to show some instant impact ability to steal away opportunities from Williams, who isn’t dynamic but can run, catch and block at capable levels. As the 2020 season wears on and the weather gets colder, Dillon’s role may increase.

Josiah Deguara vs. Robert Tonyan

Deguara is a versatile receiver and blocker, but he’ll enter the NFL lacking Jace Sternberger’s receiving ability and Marcedes Lewis’ blocking ability. Their individual roles should be secure. The guess here is that Deguara will battle Tonyan for the snaps as the offense’s go-to move tight end in 2020. Tonyan is entering his third NFL season as a tight end, and he’s flashed as a receiver and improved as a blocker, but he’s not as natural a fit at move tight end as Deguara, who the Packers think can play a Kyle Juszczyk-like role.

Kamal Martin vs. Oren Burks

Oren Burks Kamal Martin

Now-or-never time is approaching for Burks, the Packers’ third-round pick in 2018. He’s big and athletic and should be the rangy, do-it-all linebacker the Packers need, but he hasn’t shown any of those abilities consistently during his first two injury-affected seasons. The Packers swapped out Blake Martinez for Christian Kirksey and didn’t take an inside linebacker until the fifth round (Martin), so Burks is clearly expected to handle an important role. Can Martin put the heat on him this summer? Martin has good length and the Packers like his speed and potential in coverage. If Burks struggles, or another injury strikes, Martin will have an opportunity to play a lot as a rookie.

Jon Runyan vs. Alex Light

The Packers think Runyan’s best position is inside, and it’s possible he could soon challenge to start at a guard spot, but what if the former Michigan left tackle proves he can play (or even just survive) on the edge? Light, the swing tackle for the first three months of last season, currently looks like the No. 3 offensive tackle with Jared Veldheer still unsigned. Runyan could provide some valuable depth. Light might find it hard to make the roster if Runyan is passable at tackle.

Jake Hanson vs. Lucas Patrick

The Packers re-signed Patrick, a do-it-all interior offensive lineman who has served as a backup center in recent years. Now, the Packers have Hanson, Oregon’s 49-game starter at center. He could be the future at the position, potentially even as Corey Linsley’s successor in 2021. Can the Packers keep both? Patrick’s utility on the roster shrinks if Hanson proves he can play this summer.

Simon Stepaniak vs. Cole Madison

Madison is an awesome story of individual perseverance, but he struggled during camp last summer and then missed most of the season after tearing his ACL in practice. The draft only complicated Madison’s road back to the roster. Stepaniak is a strong and physical interior lineman who is also coming off a significant knee injury. Madison may have to beat out all three draft picks along the offensive line to make the roster.

Vernon Scott vs. Will Redmond

Will Redmond Vernon Scott

Redmond emerged as a valuable special teamer and versatile defensive back in 2019. The Packers brought him back on a one-year deal, but his skill set is replaceable. Scott has speed, versatility as a safety and a ton of experience on special teams in college. His clearest path to the roster is beating out Redmond. Winning the battle will require Scott to prove he has a higher upside as a defender – especially in coverage from a variety of spots –without sacrificing value on special teams.

Jonathan Garvin vs. Tim Williams/Greg Roberts/Randy Ramsey

The Packers lost Kyler Fackrell in free agency, and while Rashan Gary will assume most of his snaps in 2020, the roster will require keeping a fourth rusher. Williams, Roberts and Ramsey all return to battle Garvin and undrafted free agents Delontae Scott and Tipa Galeai. Garvin, a 20-year-old early entry into the draft, arrives in the NFL with some untapped potential. His sophomore season was fantastic. Can he develop physically and mentally and jump the returning edge rushers for a roster spot?

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Ranking the Saints draft picks odds of success, based off jersey number

The New Orleans Saints rookie draft picks chose their jersey numbers. Cesar Ruiz setthimself up for success while Zack Baun almost fumbled.

Good news, everyone! This year’s crop of New Orleans Saints draft picks didn’t waste any time in choosing their new jersey numbers, so we’ve already gotten a good look at what they’ll be wearing once Saints training camp rolls around.

Forget all of the other factors that help decide whether a rookie will flourish — things like skill, athleticism, experience, versatility, and opportunity. The only thing that’s truly important is which number a player slaps on his chest. Everyone knows this. Seriously.

However, fewer football fans are aware of the unwritten rules of picking a good jersey number (and avoiding a bad one). In light of that, we’re going to rank the Saints rookie draft picks based off the digits they’ve tied themselves to (for now; more on that later).

Without late-round picks, Saints preparing for undrafted free agency

The New Orleans Saints traded all of their remaining draft picks, which Sean Payton thinks gives them an edge on undrafted free agency.

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So, it turns out that there’s a method to the New Orleans Saints’ madness — or at least a silver lining to the decision to trade all four of their remaining draft picks to get back into the third round. But now we risk mixing metaphors.

The virtual format of this year’s draft means that teams can’t coordinate as easy once the undrafted free agent signing period kicks off after the seventh round. In normal years, the coaching and scouting staffs are gathered in the team’s war room where everyone can see the big board, working together to recruit prospects and fill out the roster.

For example, last year Deonte Harris ended up signing with the Saints because special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi “stood on a table” (there’s another metaphor) to talk team decision-makers into taking a chance on the small-school prospect out of Assumption College. Harris went on to earn Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition, posting the best numbers of any punt returner since Sean Payton was hired to coach the team.

It won’t be so easy to do that this time around. Teams can still hold teleconferences and share information on group spreadsheets, but the process is expected to be even more hectic than usual.

So while it’s not the reason they traded all of their picks, having that extra time to prepare a strategy while every other team is making their picks is something Payton is looking forward to.

Payton explained after the second day’s picks, “We’ll be in a position to clearly identify a ranking order of players that we want to sign and commit money to as (undrafted) free agents, and then have the correct vision as to how they will make this roster. I just think it will bring a little bit more order on the third day with everyone in their houses.”

We’ll see if it that approach works out. Our live undrafted free agency tracker will go up immediately after the seventh round concludes, so check back often for updates on which rookies will get a shot with the Saints.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin is worried about acclimating rookies

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has shifted his focus to how he will help incoming rookies get acclimated to life as a Steeler.

Head coach Mike Tomlin says that he’s beyond the worry of the process of the NFL draft and is now more concerned about what happens after.

“My focus now is on the welcoming and the development of the guys that we’re going to draft, and what that’s going to look like or not look like,” Tomlin said on Monday’s virtual pre-draft press conference.

“Drafting is just the beginning of the process. How we develop these men, not only as players but into our team and this community is something we take personal pride in and work very hard at. So these present circumstances are going to change the look of that. My attention is probably moving in that direction in terms of what rookie orientation looks like and how we get to know these young men and help them grow and develop.”

All aspects of the NFL offseason have been affected by the limitations that COVID-19 present. While it will be more of a challenge transitioning rookies from college into a professional atmosphere and the additional responsibilities that come with it, Tomlin and his staff will undoubtedly find a way to make it work.

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What the Lions’ offseason moves mean for their 2019 rookie class

Examining the Detroit Lions’ offseason moves and projecting what they mean for their 2019 rookie draft class. Who gets promoted and who is pushed on the roster bubble?

The Detroit Lions have been busy this offseason. Key players on both offense and defense have left the team and gone elsewhere. New players have been brought in. Two trades were made.

Each move that Detroit made this season has impacted a player from the  2019 rookie class in some way, shape, or form.

Tight end

While the signings of tight ends Matt Sokol and Paul Butler don’t pose any threat to 2019 first-round pick T.J Hockenson, the two young players may challenge Isaac Nauta for the last spot on the depth chart.

Sokol, a former Michigan State Spartan, spent his rookie season in 2019 on the practice squads of the Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars. He is a strong run-blocker who has the ability to play in a fullback role, meaning he’s in direct competition with Nauta.

Butler has slightly more experience, spending the last two seasons on the Raiders’ practice squad. His skill set is better suited for a pure-receiving role, but he could still challenge Nauta for that third tight end role.

Linebacker

This offseason, the Lions appear to have put an extra effort into their linebacker position. The team brought in four linebackers via free agency and futures deals, including Jamie Collins, Reggie Ragland, Elijah Lee, and Christian Sam (who was on the Lions’ practice squad).

Collins will start and likely alongside 2019 second-round pick Jahlani Tavai. As for the others, they pose a major threat to Anthony Pittman. Pittman spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad and earned a call-up in the final game of the season. While he’s likely to return to the practice squad for the upcoming season, these new signings lowered his chances of making the active roster.

Safety

Prior to free agency, Will Harris was slotted to be a starting safety for the Lions’ defense. Things changed quickly for him after the team traded for Duron Harmon. Harmon, a former starter in New England, is an instant upgrade at the position and will move Harris back to the third-safety role he played last season.

With the addition of special teamer and backup safety Jayron Kearse, C.J. Moore will have some fierce competition in training camp. Moore made the roster as an undrafted rookie and quickly became one of Detroit’s core players on special teams.

JACK linebacker

One 2019 draft pick who doesn’t have to worry about competition is Austin Bryant. If anything, the team’s offseason moves may have helped Bryant earn a starting role. The former fourth-round pick out of Clemson has the ability to play both JACK linebacker and defensive end, and the Lions haven’t done much to bolster either position this offseason. Instead, they released starting JACK linebacker Devon Kennard, meaning Bryant’s path to the first-team defense is wide open.

Cornerback

Amani Oruwariye is currently in the fight to be the starter alongside newly-signed Desmond Trufant. His primary competition is another recent free-agent signing: Darryl Roberts. Roberts, who will turn 30 years old during the season, started the past two seasons for the Jets. The Lions also have a chance to grab Jeff Okudah in the upcoming draft, which might mean that both Oruwariye and Roberts will be backups in 2020.

Running back

Ty Johnson hasn’t had much to worry about this offseason. The Lions brought back Wes Hills and Tra Carson on a futures deals in January and lost J.D. McKissic in free agency but haven’t done anything else at the position. The team is now housing five players at a position where they usually keep four, but it’s safe to say that Johnson has nothing to worry about.

Wide receiver

The deepest position group the Detroit Lions have is the wide receivers. The additions of Geronimo Allison, Geremy Davis, and Victor Bolden will directly impact three 2019 rookies. Travis Fulgham, Tom Kennedy, and Jonathan Duhart are all in the fight for the last one or two spots on the depth chart. Both Fulgham and Kennedy spent some time on both the practice squad and active roster in 2019. Duhart, a college teammate of Fulgham, remained on the practice squad and was brought back on a futures deal.

Fulgham and Duhart are both big-bodied receivers who fit best as outside receivers. This will put them in direct competition with Allison, Davis, and the other outside receivers on the roster. Kennedy is a pure slot receiver who can contribute on special teams as a punt returner. Unfortunately for him, so is Bolden. The two are the only current options as backups to Danny Amendola.

Offensive line

On the offensive line, Beau Benzschawel will have quite the fight ahead of him. With an opening at the right guard position, the Lions brought in a slew of interior lineman to compete. They re-signed Oday Aboushi and inked Russel Bodine, Joshua Garnett, and Casey Tucker in free agency. All three of these players have at least one season of starting experience, while Benzschawel has yet to play a snap on offense. The Lions are likely to find their starter in the draft, but these offseason moves have made it a very difficult path for the 2019 undrafted rookie earning a starting role.

Defensive line

Undrafted in 2019, Kevin Strong made a big enough impression in training camp to make the active roster. Serving as both a 3T and big-bodied edge rusher on the defensive line, Strong played well up until his season-ending injury in Week 9. The Lions brought in three more defensive tackles this offseason, Danny Shelton, Nick Williams, and Olive Sagapolu. Shelton will start at nose tackle, and Williams will likely start at 3/5T. This leaves Atkins and Sagapolu to compete with Strong as the primary backup on the defensive line.

Quarterback

David Blough was Detroit’s third-string passer in 2019 and will hold that role again in 2020. He was primed to be the backup until the Lions brought in veteran Chase Daniel.

The Detroit Lions have done a lot throughout the offseason and have added depth to each position. While this has directly impacted most of their 2019 rookie class in a negative way, it has clearly helped the team as a whole. With the draft coming up this month, expect their roles to change even more.

Lions make heavy investment in special teams during free agency

Despite losing, and not replacing, a punter in free agency, the Detroit Lions have made a heavy investment in their special teams coverage and blocking units.

After moving on from 2019 special teams coordinator John Bonamego, the Lions made a strong move towards improving their special teams by hiring up-and-comer Brayden Coombs (formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals) to take over the coordinator position.

Coombs spent the last decade learning under Bengals coordinator Darrin Simmons and was part of Football Outsiders #1 DVOA special teams unit in 2019.

But the addition of Coombs was just the beginning. When the Lions hit the free agency market, they made a heavy investment in their special teams coverage and blocking units.

Snap Counts

In 2019, the Lions had around 470 plays on special teams. That works out to about 5,170 snaps spread out over the roster throughout the year. If we remove extra point and field goal attempts, as well as the offensive/defensive linemen, long snapper and kicker snaps, that leaves roughly 3,221 snaps for coverage and blocking units.

Of those 3,221 snaps, the Lions return 24 players and 2,792 of those snaps. Lost in free agency were just 409 snaps, from Logan Thomas (176), Tavon Wilson (120), J.D. McKissic (79), Paul Perkins (29), and Devon Kennard (14).

While not all of the Lions’ offseason signings (or returning players) will make the 2020 roster, they have invested in nine players who contributed on 953 special teams snaps last season including Jayron Kearse (226), Tony McRae (181), Elijah Lee (198), Geremy Davis (97), Darryl Roberts (85), Jamie Collins (76), Geronimo Allison (45), Reggie Ragland (26), Duron Harmon (19).

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That’s an increase of four players and 524 snaps from 2019 special teams units — and this isn’t factoring in the players who will be added via the Lions draft class.

Last season the Lions got special teams contributions from eight rookies that accounted for 817 special teams coverage/blocking snaps. Those snaps came from C.J Moore (292), Will Harris (178), Ty Johnson (118), Isaac Nauta (82), Amani Oruwariye (69), Jahlani Tavai (41), Travis Fulgham (25), and Anthony Pittman (12).

If the Lions can get a similar level of contributions from this year’s rookie class, as well as the additional 524 from this year’s free agents, the Lions will have over 1300 additional snaps to play with when making decisions on their 53-man roster.

Bottom line

As always, players who can contribute on special teams will round out the 2020 roster, and with roughly 25-percent more snap experience than they will need, the Lions will be able to pick from the best of what will assuredly be a fierce training camp competition.

Think of it as being able to pick the best dozen apples from the orchard rather than buying a three-pound bag from the grocery store and hoping none of them are bruised or rotten.

A lot of the recent signings in free agency haven’t been flashy, but the Lions are setting themselves up to put an improved special teams unit on the field. Considering how often special teams can be an intricate part in determining success during a game, its low key moves like this that can pay dividends in December.