Checking in on the New Orleans Saints' Biggest Project Players
The New Orleans Saints are in the midst of their third week of organized team activities, and the team has several project players who are looking to continue their progress in 2015.
Typically, there's more than one type of project player on an NFL roster. Some projects are draft picks who were selected due to their raw athleticism, while others are undrafted free-agent signees with a high ceiling for improvement.
Despite the presence of flaws and/or inconsistencies in their game, these players often have the potential to develop into significant contributors, if used in the right system. Many of them spend time on the practice squad, but it isn't out of the question for some to eventually earn a roster spot and, in time, carve out a spot in the rotation.
While the expectations for project players vary, OTAs provide the opportunity for most of them to make significant strides.
In the following slideshow, we’ll take a look at some of New Orleans’ biggest project players and examine their prospects for the 2015 season.
Kasim Edebali, Outside Linebacker
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The Saints signed undrafted outside linebacker Kasim Edebali as a free agent in 2014, and the young pass-rusher stood out from the moment he stepped on the practice field.
A native of Hamburg, Germany, Edebali was a standout at Boston College, where he recorded 9.5 sacks as a senior in 2013. Prior to college, he cut his teeth in the USA Football International Student Program.
After making his mark in Saints practices a year ago, he was one of only two undrafted free agents to make the final roster at the end of the 2014 preseason.
Earning a roster spot was only the beginning for Edebali, however, as he worked his way onto the field and saw action in all 16 games, mostly as a special teamer. He turned in his best performance in New Orleans’ win over Green Bay, registering two sacks of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
He’s come along quickly as a young edge defender in coordinator Rob Ryan’s unit, but given the Saints’ offseason moves at the position, he’ll have to continue his fast rise if he's to increase his playing time this season. New Orleans brought in two more pass-rushers, Hau’oli Kikaha in Round 2 and Davis Tull in Round 5, in the recent draft.
Both rookies could make a push for playing time in 2015, and Edebali will have to keep improving at a steady rate in order to consistently see the field as a pass-rusher.
Ryan Griffin, Quarterback
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As 36-year-old quarterback Drew Brees enters the latter stages of his career, the Saints are giving serious thought to the prospect of life without the future Hall of Famer.
On May 1, New Orleans selected Colorado State signal-caller Garrett Grayson in the third round of the draft. The pick marks just the second time in coach Sean Payton’s tenure that the Saints have drafted a quarterback, and the fact that they picked him in Round 3 suggests they have big plans for the former Rams standout.
For each of the past two seasons, Brees’ backup has been 33-year-old Luke McCown. With Grayson’s arrival on the scene, McCown’s time in New Orleans could be over after the coming season, as the 11-year veteran is only locked in for a one-year deal.
That leaves 25-year-old Ryan Griffin, who’s entering his third season as a Saint.
Undrafted out of Tulane, the 6’5,” 210-pounder inked a free-agent deal with New Orleans in 2013. He’s spent time on both the practice squad and the active roster during each of his first two seasons, rounding out the depth chart behind Brees and McCown as the No. 3 quarterback.
In preseason contests, Griffin has shown flashes of promise. He has a live arm and quick feet, and he’s demonstrated an ability to throw on the move and make plays down the field. Inconsistency has plagued him, however, and he’s been unable to beat out McCown for the backup role.
If Griffin intends on being a Saint in 2015, that will have to change. The chances that New Orleans will pull the plug on Grayson in his first year are slim to none, which means Griffin will likely have to separate himself from McCown in order to make the team.
This may seem like a tall order, but the former Green Wave standout doesn’t lack for talent, and this year’s battle with McCown could well last the duration of the preseason.
Since the drafting of Grayson, Griffin has seemed like the forgotten man of the group among the Saints quarterbacks, but the time is now for him to make his mark in New Orleans.
Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Cornerback
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It’s rare that a second-round draft pick is considered a project, but that appears to be the case with Saints cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste.
In dire need of help in the secondary, New Orleans selected the former Nebraska cover man with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2014 draft, and the move had all the makings of a project up until this point.
The 6’3,” 218-pound Jean-Baptiste has unique size for his position, and this was likely a key factor in the decision to draft him. His cover skills have yet to come around, however. He looked uncomfortable in coverage throughout last preseason, and despite the fact that the Saints fielded a subpar pass defense in 2014, he was unable to log any significant playing time.
In fact, fellow rookie Brian Dixon, an undrafted free-agent acquisition, passed up Jean-Baptiste rather quickly on the depth chart and saw no shortage of action during his first season wearing the black and gold.
Of course, it’s not too late for the light to come on this season for the talented second-year man. Young cornerbacks often go through growing pains as they adjust to the NFL game, and Jean-Baptiste could still become a solid contributor in New Orleans.
The Saints aren’t likely to have much more patience with him after this season, however, so he’ll have to find his footing in 2015.
So far, so good for the athletic young cover man in OTAs, at least as far as the depth chart goes. According to Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate, Jean-Baptiste ran with the second-team defense as an outside corner during last Thursday's practice.
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Brandon Coleman, Wide Receiver
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At 6’6” and 225 pounds, wide receiver Brandon Coleman was quite the impressive physical specimen when he arrived in New Orleans as an undrafted free agent a year ago.
The former Rutgers Scarlet Knight competed for a spot on the final roster throughout last year’s preseason, but his inconsistency as a receiver placed him on the outside looking in when the final 53-man roster was announced.
Still, his raw athletic ability landed him on the practice squad, where he honed his skills before being called up to the active roster late in the 2014 season.
By all accounts, he’s a much-improved player in 2015. According to NOLA.com Saints reporter Larry Holder, Coleman has stood out in OTAs. He’s garnered reps with the first team and hauled in a number of impressive catches.
With Jimmy Graham no longer in the mix, New Orleans could use another sizable target in the short-to-intermediate passing game, and Coleman may well end being the man to fill the role.
Seantavius Jones, Wide Receiver
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While Coleman has made strides, he’s not the only project wide receiver to demonstrate marked improvement from his rookie year.
Seantavius Jones, also signed as an undrafted free agent a year ago, has turned heads throughout OTAs, according to Holder. The Valdosta State product has taken snaps with the first team and has hauled in multiple receptions.
While not as physically imposing as Coleman, Jones has ideal size at 6’3” and 200 pounds, and he possesses nice hands to go with his impressive body control.
He was unable to secure a roster spot before last season began, but after spending most of the season on the practice squad, he was called up to the active roster a couple of weeks before Coleman last December.
In the midst of a heated competition for roster spots at wideout this offseason, Jones has an excellent shot to not only make the team but provide a hefty contribution to the New Orleans passing game this coming season.
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