3 Players to Watch at Saints Camp Day 3

The pads will be on in a couple days, but fans and shells arrive on Friday. Meaning that there will be a little more physicality out on the field and a lot more energy.

The next benchmark is upon New Orleans Saints training camp with fans expected in attendance on Friday. With fans, usually comes a lot of excitement and energy on the field and sometimes, the coveted and show-stopping one-on-ones. While wideouts and cornerbacks will be keenly in focus today, a linebacker has thrust himself into must-see status as well.

Oct 20, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker Andrew Dowell (50) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

LB Andrew Dowell

Much like we watched defensive end Payton Turner closely on Thursday to see if he could repeat his stellar first day. (Which he did.) Friday will be all about No. 50. Dowell has forced and recovered fumbles in two straight days while also playing solid coverage and soundly getting in position in the run game. He has been an early camp MVP and will look to keep the momentum going in Day 3.

The Saints linebacker room has a very clear pair of leaders in Demario Davis and Pete Werner. But their depth leaves some questions unanswered. It is a very young room behind the top two whether in terms of age or experience. Dowell has consistently been a camp standout, but has had some injuries stymie his progress a couple times. Last year, he made strides and became a core special teamer. But for a team looking to generate more takeaways this offseason, his nose for the football can not be ignored.

WR Rashid Shaheed

A lot has been made of wide receivers Michael Thomas and Chris Olave and rightfully so. But eyes have also been all over Shaheed, his speed but also his route running which has markedly developed. He was already a good route runner last season, but now the arrow is pointing straight up for his trajectory.

He looks crisp, precise and like a legitimate threat. Shaheed is much more than a returner, he's a bonafide wide receiver. Defenders have no choice but to buy his vertical release because if they do not, they will be left in the dust. But once those cornerbacks flip their hips, if Shaheed has a change of direction at the top of his stem, he has been creating yards of separation out of his breaks. If one-on-ones are on the way today look out. Because Shaheed is about to be a show-stopper.

CB Paulson Adebo

The third-year cornerback led off this year's team drills with a pass breakup nullifying an attempted connection between quarterback Derek Carr and Thomas on a slant. He is playing with a ton of confidence and now likely gets back to a full serving of first team reps after fellow cornerback Alontae Taylor stepped in yesterday.

The competition for the second cornerback opposite lockdown corner Marshon Lattimore has wasted no time getting started. Taylor showed up with sticky coverage on a couple of passing attempts on Thursday and now Adebo should get another chance to show his progress and ability to make plays on the ball in front of a welcoming audience. One-on-ones could be big for this battle as well, regardless of how much those drills are weighted in a receiver's favor.