The Most Intriguing Rookie Storylines at the New Orleans Saints' OTAs
The New Orleans Saints will soon take another step toward the start of the 2015 season, as they begin the first of three OTA sessions on Tuesday, May 26.
Following a disappointing 7-9 campaign in 2014, change has been the overriding theme for the Saints’ 2015 offseason. Under the direction of general manager Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton, New Orleans has parted ways with some longtime starters and added some highly sought-after free agents at key positions.
With the addition of nine selections in the 2015 NFL draft, along with the signings of a host of undrafted rookie free agents, New Orleans will have plenty of fresh faces in the fold when OTAs begin.
Just two weeks removed from the draft, the Saints held a minicamp for their rookies this past weekend. Although the camp also served as a tryout for numerous veteran players hoping to earn contracts, its primary purpose was to give the Saints’ staff an opportunity to form its first impressions of the 2015 rookie class.
Over the course of the event, several storylines unfolded that should be worth keeping an eye on during the upcoming OTAs, and we’ll take a look at some of them in the following slideshow.
Where Will Andrus Peat Play?
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The Saints addressed their offensive line with the No. 13 overall pick in the draft, selecting Stanford’s Andrus Peat.
Strengthening the offensive line has often proved to be an effective formula for building a championship-level team in the NFL. Upon one glance at Peat’s 6’7", 313-pound frame, it’s tough to argue against the Saints’ thinking here.
With long arms and thick legs, Peat looks every bit the part of a dominant tackle, and he has impressive quickness for a man his size.
Since he was drafted, however, the big question regarding Peat's position hasn't been definitively answered. Will he play left or right tackle for New Orleans in 2015?
According to Joel A. Erickson of the New Orleans Advocate, Payton said the team worked Peat at both tackle spots throughout the minicamp, and he saw more action on the right side.
Here’s what Payton had to say about his highly touted rookie, as quoted by Erickson:
"I think it’s going to be important for him initially as he gets ready to come to the veterans minicamp and then (in) training camp to begin to have a primary spot. I see that being initially at right, but also see him being able to go and play left.
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The starting right tackle position is currently manned by nine-year veteran Zach Strief. The 31-year-old had a respectable season last year, for the most part. With Peat now in a Saints uniform, however, Strief’s days as a starter in New Orleans could be numbered.
The transition may come later rather than sooner, and there's a chance it may not happen at all in 2015, but if he stays at right tackle, it's only a matter of time before Peat eventually takes the job.
Can P.J. Williams Get an Early Jump on the Nickelback Position?
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After fielding an appalling pass defense in 2014, New Orleans has demonstrated a strong commitment to upgrading at the cornerback position this offseason.
With the signing of Brandon Browner, the Saints now have a solid No. 2 starter to pair with Keenan Lewis on the outside.
After that, however, the situation is much more uncertain.
New Orleans appears to have no shortage of young talent at the position, as Brian Dixon, Terrence Frederick and Stanley Jean-Baptiste return from last year’s squad to compete with a slew of newcomers. Also in the mix for roster spots are 2015 free-agent acquisitions Kyle Wilson and Delvin Breaux.
Then, there’s 2015 draft picks P.J. Williams and Damian Swann, both of whom should compete for early playing time.
A third-round selection out of Florida State, Williams brings a lot to the table, and he could play a major role in 2015 as the Saints' nickelback.
At 6’0” and 194 pounds, he has adequate height and build for the position, which is always a good starting point. He excels in press-man coverage, and he possesses exceptional ball skills. In addition, he’s a highly physical player with a short memory. All of these attributes make Williams a nice fit as a corner in Rob Ryan’s aggressive scheme.
With OTAs still to come, it’s probably too early to speculate on which of the Saints’ corners will make the team and what the depth chart will look like. Given his lengthy rundown of valuable strengths, however, it would come as a shock if Williams isn’t at least in the running for the nickel spot, if not the leading candidate, heading into fall camp.
Can Wide Receiver Kyle Prater Push for a Roster Spot?
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After signing former New Hampshire standout R.J. Harris, New Orleans inked another undrafted free-agent wideout to a contract. At the end of rookie minicamp, the Saints agreed to a deal with Kyle Prater, and the former Northwestern Wildcat will be an intriguing young talent to keep an eye on throughout OTAs.
Prior to receiving an invite to New Orleans’ rookie minicamp, Prater worked out with the Cleveland Browns. The Saints were apparently impressed with what they saw from the undrafted rookie, as they didn't allow him to leave without a contract.
At 6’5” and 225 pounds, Prater unquestionably has impressive size for the position. His lengthy, sturdy frame will almost assuredly draw comparisons to long-time Saints starter Marques Colston.
A role as a wide receiver-tight end hybrid could be in his future, however, provided he puts on a few more pounds. He possesses strong hands and nice body control, and he's a devoted blocker.
At Northwestern, Prater's production increased in a big way in his senior season, and he appears to be a player with potential for consistent improvement. After hauling in a combined 19 catches in 2012 and 2013, he totaled 51 receptions last year.
While Prater’s size will serve as an advantage in his bid to make the squad in New Orleans, it certainly won’t guarantee him anything.
After all, he’ll likely be competing with the similarly built Brandon Coleman (6’6” and 225 pounds) for a roster spot. There’s also Seantavius Jones, who, like Coleman, was signed by New Orleans as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and spent last season on the practice squad.
The Saints currently have 12 wideouts in the fold. Most NFL teams only carry six on their final rosters, and with the recent signing of veteran receiver Josh Morgan, there will be some stiff competition for what appears to be a single roster spot.
Given his potentially high ceiling, Prater should be in the mix for that spot come fall, and he’ll be looking to get off on the right foot during next week’s OTAs.
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Who Will Emerge as the Saints' Kicker?
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Though neither of the two remaining kickers on the Saints’ roster are technically rookies, the fact remains that neither has registered a single kick attempt in an NFL regular season game, which makes them green by anyone’s standards.
With the release of journeyman kicker Shayne Graham this week, New Orleans is down to Dustin Hopkins and Zach Hocker.
Hopkins, a 2013 sixth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills, was primed to start in his rookie year before falling victim to a significant groin injury before the season began. He never regained his position the following year, and the Saints signed him to the practice squad late in the 2014 season.
As for Hocker, the former Arkansas Razorback is also a former draft pick who’s yet to see his career take off. He was selected by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round a year ago, but he was unable to claim a roster spot in fall camp. The Saints signed him after last weekend's minicamp.
The recent vote by league owners to move the spot back to the 15-yard line for extra-point kicks makes the kicker position one of even greater importance going forward.
With Graham now out of the picture, Hopkins and Hocker appear set to duel it out in New Orleans. The competition will officially begin at next week’s OTAs, but it could conceivably carry on until the final preseason game is in the books.
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