Roster locks, long shots, and players on the bubble in Saints WR corps

May 30, 2023

There’s a lot of intrigue surrounding the New Orleans Saints wide receiver corps ahead of their final preseason game — with roster cuts following shortly after, multiple players are competing for their jobs right now.

Some guys are safe locks for the 53-man roster to open the season. Others are on the bubble and have a shot at clinching a roster spot versus returning on the practice squad after being waived. Others are long shots who badly need to show the team something in the days ahead, or they’ll be playing football elsewhere in the fall.

With the Saints having let go of veteran wideouts Bryan Edwards, James Washington, and Keke Coutee in each of the last three weeks, it’s worth taking stock of the receiving corps to see what opportunities are still available.

Last year the team rostered six receivers and stashed three others on the practice squad, which they maintained throughout the season. If that repeats, one of the ten receivers currently on the team won’t be here this time next week. Here are our picks for current roster locks, long shots, and players on the bubble whose case could go either way:

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Olave has built a considerable amount of momentum this summer; he’s got lofty expectations to live up to after following up a strong rookie season by consistently practicing at a high level. He’s a popular pick for Offensive Player of the Year.

Status: Lock

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Thomas is still shaking off some rust and fine-tuning his connection with Derek Carr, but he’s improving by the day and should still be an asset to an offense that has missed him badly. He bullied the expensive Los Angeles Chargers secondary in joint practices last week.

Status: Lock

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

A groin injury limited Shaheed at minicamp earlier this year, and when it flared up again at training camp the Saints decided to just put him on ice until the season starts. He only saw a small sample size as a rookie but he performed as well as anyone in the league, and is poised to break out if his body can handle a heavier workload.

Status: Lock

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Either Kirkwood or Tre’Quan Smith is likely making this team as a “reliable” veteran who can back up youngsters like Olave and Shaheed and step into a bigger role if Thomas misses time, and Kirkwood has availability on his side. He’s stayed healthy and put in a lot of reps with Derek Carr on the first-team offense, and it’s telling that the Saints rested him with their other starters in the second preseason game.

Status: Lock

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Teams don’t cut rookie draft picks who stand out under the bright lights, and that’s what Perry has done this summer. Even if he’s initially inactive as the primary backup behind Thomas, he has enough playmaking ability and a combination of size and speed that no one else in the receiving corps can match. He’s safe between those attributes and his draft status.

Status: Lock

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Smith is only going to make the team if the Saints aren’t confident in having so many young guys like Olave, Shaheed, and Perry playing big roles, and if they believe Kirkwood can be called up from the practice squad with ease (which may be valid). They know what his skill set is at this point in his career and he hasn’t practiced since going down with a groin injury back on Aug. 5. Smith could also likely fit into the practice squad.

Status: Roster bubble

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Bowden is in the lead to return punts and kickoffs this season, having done that more often than anyone else in New Orleans through two preseason games; that’s how Shaheed initially made the team last year, but his injury and expanded role on offense might prompt the Saints into tabbing someone else for it. Bowden has been fighting through his own groin injury as of late.

Status: Roster bubble

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The “other” rookie receiver this year, Davis has made the most of his opportunities in the preseason games — he’s also seen a significant uptick in his slot usage (83.3%) compared to his college resume (19.8%), per Pro Football Focus charting, which suggests that’s where the coaches believe he’ll be most successful. It may not be enough to win a roster spot, but he could start out on the practice squad just like Shaheed, Kirkwood, and Juwan Johnson did before him.

Status: Roster bubble

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Baker has been around the team for a few years now, and he’s had some nice moments on special teams in preseason. If he’s going to make the team, that’s going to be his path forward, but he hasn’t done enough offensively to surpass other players in the group.

Status: Long shot

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Kirklin joined the team more recently than most, but he got up to speed quickly and caught all 4 of his targets in preseason, lining up out wide and in the slot. He’s also played some snaps on special teams to help his case. But he’s most likely headed for the practice squad barring something unforeseen in this last week.

Status: Long shot

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