2006 New Orleans Saints, Version 2.3: Projected 53-Man Roster (Offense)

QUARTERBACKS (3)
STARTER (1): Drew Brees
BACKUPS (2): Jamie Martin, Adrian McPherson or Bruce Eugene
NOTABLE OMISSION: Todd Bowman
COMMENTS: A major improvement over last year, both at starter and backup. McPherson and Eugene will fight it out for the third spot. I figure McPherson will win out, but he is a “bad character” guy that Sean Payton doesn’t like on his teams.

RUNNING BACKS (4)
STARTER (1): Reggie Bush
BACKUPS (3): Deuce McAllister, Aaron Stecker, Fred McAfee
NOTABLE OMISSION: Michael Bennett
COMMENTS: Even if you keep just Bush and McAllister and trade Bennett, that could give us one dangerous backfield, because they can do different things. And you know that Reggie Bush isn’t an every-down back anyway. Plus, he’ll probably be lining up at wide receiver too. I still like Stecker to make the team as the third running back and special teams player. 5/15 UPDATE: Reports say the Saints are actively attempting to trade Michael Bennett, so strike him from the list. Fred McAffee makes it back on the roster for now because he's our best special teams player.

FULLBACK (1)
STARTER (1): Mike Karney
BACKUPS: None
COMMENTS: Karney starts at fullback. They may keep an extra tight end to block, instead of keeping a second fullback. Nobody on the roster right now fills the backup role.

WIDE RECEIVERS (6)
STARTERS (2): Joe Horn and Donte’ Stallworth
BACKUPS (4): Devery Henderson, Michael Lewis, Chris Horn, Mike Hass
NOTABLE OMISSIONS: Nate Poole, Chase Lyman, Derrius Thompson, Bethel Johnson
COMMENTS: Reggie Bush will also probably line up at the position and Marques Colston can play there too. I hope Henderson can step up. With Hass, we finally have a dependable possession receiver we can go to on 3rd down. Poole got hurt last year. And let’s just assume Lyman will get hurt again. Overall, not much change. 5/15 UPDATE: After much thought and after listening to the coach, I have put Michael Lewis back on the roster. It's not a good idea anyway to risk an injury to Reggie Bush on special teams when you still have a talent like Michael Lewis on the team. 6/4 UPDATE: The team has brought in veteran Derrius Thompson to compete for a spot. I don't see him making the team, unless Chris Horn is a bust. 6/8 UPDATE: Bethel Johnson has been acquired in the Jonathan Sullivan trade. He's strictly a special-teams guy. I figure both he and Michael Lewis are fighting for one roster spot. I'm giving the advantage to Lewis (for now). It's a shame that Johnson was all we could get for a guy we once traded two first round picks to acquire. If it's any consolation, the guys the Cardinals picked with those draft picks aren't any good either.

TIGHT ENDS (4)
STARTER (1): Zach Hilton
BACKUP (3): Ernie Conwell, Mark Campbell, Marques Colston
NOTABLE OMISSIONS: Billy Miller, Tim Euhus COMMENTS: I say we keep 4, only because we need an extra blocker, and Colston will probably convert to the position. Hilton and Conwell are the starters, Campbell is the blocker, and Colston is the project. Hopefully Colston will become everything we hoped Boo Williams was going to become. 5/15 UPDATE: Shad Meier has already been released. That should not come as a surprise to anyone. 6/4 UPDATE: Veteran Billy Miller signed right before minicamp. He's a former NFL starter with the Texans. I think either he or Conwell will not make the team. And I've heard undocumented rumors that Ernie Conwell chashed with the coaching staff. I'll go out on a limb and say that Conwell is still there. 6/8 UPDATE: The Saints acquired Tim Euhus in the Courtney Watson trade. He might make the team, but right now I'm saying no. I figure he and Campbell are fighting for one spot.

OFFENSIVE LINE (10)
STARTERS (5): Jammal Brown (T), Jon Stinchcomb (T), Montrae Holland (G), Jermane Mayberry (G), Jeff Faine (C)
BACKUPS (5): Jamar Nesbit, Jonathan Goodwin, Ben Archibald, Jahri Davis, Zach Strief
NOTABLE OMISSIONS: Chad Setterstrom
COMMENTS: We’re better there with the addition of Faine. But it’s still the worst part of our team, with linebackers coming in a very close second. I don’t know if we’ll make any more upgrades. I have the two rookies making the team right now, but that’s just a guess. Setterstrom could easily make the team, especially over Strief (who could be on the practice squad). 5/15 UPDATE: Undrafted free agent Will Allen has apparently left the team. So forget about him.

TAGS: New Orleans Katrina Saints New Orleans Saints NFL Draft Reggie Bush.