Breaking Down the New Orleans Saints' Roster After the 2015 NFL Draft

With the NFL draft now behind them, the New Orleans Saints will head into the summer with a better understanding of what their roster will look like in 2015.

The Saints made nine selections over the course of the three-day event, as they restocked coach Sean Payton's cupboard with a sizable collection of highly regarded prospects.

New Orleans, which had two picks in Round 1, began its draft by taking offensive tackle Andrus Peat. The team followed that with the selection of Stephone Anthony, thus filling a glaring need at inside linebacker.

On Day 2, the Saints addressed the edge of their defense by nabbing pass-rush specialist Hau’oli Kikaha in the second round.

After taking quarterback Garrett Grayson in Round 3, New Orleans snagged cornerback P.J. Williams, and the Saints went corner again in Round 5 with the selection of Damian Swann.

Prior to picking Swann, New Orleans added two more defensive players in outside linebacker Davis Tull and defensive tackle Tyeler Davison.

The Saints’ draft class consisted of six defensive players. After they finished the 2014 season with the league’s No. 31-ranked defense, it’s difficult to question their defense-oriented strategy.

Since the draft ended, New Orleans has supplemented its class with the signings of 13 undrafted free agents. Many of them won’t make the final roster, but the competition should make for an interesting preseason nonetheless.

Here, we’ll break down the Saints’ roster, with emphasis on 2015 draft picks and potential starters for next season.

Quarterback

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The Saints created major buzz at the draft with the third-round pick of Garrett Grayson, who could be the eventual successor to Drew Brees.

As for 2015, the preseason should be worth the watch at the quarterback position, as the Saints will have four signal-callers in camp.

New Orleans re-signed 2014 backup and 12-year veteran Luke McCown this offseason, while 25-year-old Ryan Griffin also holds a current roster spot.

While McCown is the front-runner for the backup job, nothing is set in stone at this position, and the Saints will have to cut at least one of the four. The team has rolled with just two quarterbacks numerous times in past seasons, although with Grayson now aboard, it’s likely that New Orleans will again go with three in 2015.

Running Back

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New Orleans inked both Mark Ingram and C.J. Spiller to four-year deals this offseason, and these two should get the lion’s share of touches next fall.

Third-year man Khiry Robinson will also get carries, and at such a physical position that requires lots of contact, he’s just an injury away from assuming a major role in the offense.

The Saints also have Tim Hightower to turn to for depth. The journeyman will attempt to make a comeback in New Orleans after missing the past three seasons rehabilitating a major knee injury.

Then there’s scatback Marcus Murphy, who was drafted this past Saturday by New Orleans in the seventh round. He’s a capable kick returner who could challenge incumbent Jalen Saunders on special teams, and he could also work his way into the mix as a third-down back.

At fullback, the Saints have two capable lead blockers in Austin Johnson and Erik Lorig. A 6'4" converted tight end, Lorig can also contribute in the short passing game.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

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The wide receiver spot will be another position that draws plenty of attention in the preseason.

Veteran Marques Colston and second-year man Brandin Cooks have the top two spots on lockdown, and both should play huge roles in New Orleans’ passing game in 2015.

As for the remainder of the depth chart, there could be lots of moving and shaking throughout the season.

Nick Toon is in line to nab the No. 3 spot, but with Joe Morgan also in the fold, this could turn into a position battle come fall. No matter how it pans out, both players should have roles in the offense. Toon should be able to provide Brees with a sizable target in the short passing game, while Morgan is more of a downfield threat.

The aforementioned Jalen Saunders will also compete for playing time, as will 2014 undrafted free agents Brandon Coleman and Seantavius Jones. Both Coleman and Jones spent last season on the practice squad, but they should both be ready to challenge for roster spots this coming season.

At tight end, third-year former undrafted free agent Josh Hill will be New Orleans' primary receiving target at the position. He won't be able to completely fill Jimmy Graham's shoes, but he's an athletic, still-developing tight end with no shortage of potential, and he should have a solid season in 2015. 

Meanwhile, Benjamin Watson will be back to lend a hand in the passing game while serving primarily as an extra blocker. 

Offensive Line

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With the drafting of Andrus Peat, New Orleans opened up a seemingly infinite number of possible offensive line combinations for next season.

Payton hinted to NOLA.com that there could be competition at both tackle spots. The safe bet is that Peat will play on the left side, but incumbent starter Terron Armstead won’t bow out easily to the rookie. Whichever one doesn’t get the nod, there’s a possibility he could move to the right side, with current right tackle Zach Strief moving to left guard.

The starting left guard spot opened up with the trading of Ben Grubbs this offseason, and former backup Tim Lelito is the favorite to win the job. By moving the 31-year-old Strief inside, however, the Saints could solidify their line and continue to use Lelito as a quality backup.

Of course, this is only a hypothetical scenario, and New Orleans could just as easily keep Strief at right tackle, let Peat and Armstead compete at left tackle and keep Lelito at guard. As stated earlier, there’s no lack for potential lineups here.

While the left tackle spot is uncertain at the moment, the right guard and center positions are set in stone. Max Unger will anchor the line after coming over from Seattle in the Jimmy Graham trade, while Pro Bowler Jahri Evans will man the right guard slot.

And don’t forget about guard Senio Kelemete, who could work his way onto the field with a solid preseason in 2015.

Defensive Line

Brodrick Bunkley and John Jenkins will continue to rotate at the nose guard spot in 2015, although the Saints could give Jenkins an increase in snaps this season.

Cam Jordan and Akiem Hicks are penciled in as the starting ends in defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s base 3-4 alignment. Hicks can slide over to tackle when New Orleans goes to a four-man front, with Jordan and Junior Galette as bookends.

Glenn Foster gives New Orleans an experienced backup at end, while Lawrence Virgil is available at nose.

Then, there’s newly acquired draft pick Tyeler Davison, whose role is unclear at the moment. Davison is a prototypical 3-technique, but nose guard isn’t out of the question for him. He boasts a heavily muscled 316-pound frame, and he has impressive strength to go with it.

Either way, a close look at Davison’s game film suggests he’ll find his way onto the field for the Saints in some capacity.

Linebacker

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With the drafting of Stephone Anthony, New Orleans filled a big need at the inside linebacker spot, and the former Clemson standout should plug into former starter Curtis Lofton’s vacated spot from Day 1.

There should be a healthy competition for the inside position next to Anthony, as David Hawthorne and Dannell Ellerbe vie for the job. No matter who wins out, look for Ellerbe to be on the field often on potential passing downs, as the former Miami Dolphin is a capable coverage linebacker.

In addition, New Orleans still has backup Ramon Humber, who started six games in 2014, to provide depth on the inside.

On the outside, Galette will occupy one of the spots when the Saints are in their base 3-4, while the other spot should be interesting. Parys Haralson has manned the position for the past two years, but it will be hard to keep newly acquired sack artist Hau’oli Kikaha off the field.

Meanwhile, free-agent addition Anthony Spencer should provide quality depth at this position, as Kasim Edebali, Ronald Powell and 2015 fifth-round selection Davis Tull attempt to work their way onto the field, as well.

Secondary

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The New Orleans pass defense was an enormous liability last season. Accordingly, the team has devoted lots of effort to upgrading its secondary this offseason, particularly at the cornerback position.

It all started in Week 1 of free agency, as New Orleans inked Brandon Browner to a three-year deal. The 6'4" veteran cover man played a major role for the New England Patriots on their Super Bowl championship squad last season, and he’s a shoo-in to start on the outside next to reliable starter Keenan Lewis.

The nickel and dime positions as well as all cornerback roster spots, in general, are up for grabs. Brian Dixon, Terrence Frederick and Stanley Jean-Baptiste return from last year’s squad, and they’ll be joined by free-agent signees Delvin Breaux and Kyle Wilson. Throw in 2015 draft picks P.J. Williams and Damian Swann, and you have the makings of an intense competition that should last the entirety of the preseason.

At safety, Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro are back as starters, and both will be looking to improve on disappointing 2014 seasons. Byrd’s debut season at free safety in New Orleans was cut short with an injury, while Vaccaro, a strong safety, regressed after an outstanding rookie year in 2013.

Primary backup Rafael Bush can man both safety spots, while New Orleans has Pierre Warren, Jamarca Sanford and Vinnie Sunseri for depth.

Special Teams

New Orleans re-signed kicker Shayne Graham this offseason, but it wouldn’t be a complete fall camp without a kicking competition, and New Orleans could easily bring in another leg to duel with Graham.

Thomas Morstead is one of the top punters in the game, and he also handles kickoff duties for the Saints.

In the return game, Jalen Saunders made a big splash toward the end of last season, but don’t count out draft pick Marcus Murphy. The seventh-round selection scored seven touchdowns in the return game at Missouri, where he doubled as kickoff and punt returner.