The New Orleans Saints have signed a dozen rookie free agents in the wake of the 2023 NFL draft, and more of them are on the horizon with mass tryouts awaiting in rookie minicamps. But only a few of them will have a real shot at making the team — of the 17 undrafted free agents from the 2022 class, just two of them (wide receiver Rashid Shaheed and offensive lineman Lewis Kidd) were dressing out on many game days.
It’s impossible to say for sure until they hit the practice field, but here are some early favorites to compete for roster spots in Saints training camp:
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Orji has the benefit of joining a position group with a very broad talent shelf — only Demario Davis and Pete Werner should be seen as roster locks right now. The other four or five roster spots behind them are up for grabs. Orji has the experience on special teams to compete with mainstays like Andrew Dowell and Zack Baun and more athletic ability than other backups such as Nephi Sewell and and D’Marco Jackson. A strong summer could put him into an enviable position.
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The Saints committed more contract guarantees to Evans than any other rookie free agent, so at worst they’re expecting him to make a strong case for a spot on the practice squad. If he can play well and show some ability to back up the left tackle and guard spots over the summer, he just might push someone like Kidd off the active roster. He’s got big shoes to fill as a guard named Evans wearing No. 73 and hailing from the same program that sent Terron Armstead to the NFL from Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
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The Saints have added a lot of talent at wide receiver, but Davis has a rare size-and-speed combination that could help set him apart. If he can be a reliable target on critical third downs and in the red zone (where he performed at a high level for South Carolina State) while proving he can be an asset as a blocker or on special teams, he could elbow his way into the rotation.
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Who better to take over return duties from Rashid Shaheed than the guy who tied his record for kick return touchdowns (7)? Flowers has shown great vision and anticipation for how his lanes will develop, and he seems to move much easier than his 4.5-second time in the 40-yard dash would suggest. If he can…
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