What We Want to Learn About the Saints' Defense During OTAs

Some key position battles may begin to take shape as OTAs kickoff on Tuesday.

Organized team activities (OTAs) are officially here and that means the New Orleans Saints rookies and veterans will finally share the field on Airline Drive. This will give the team some time to acclimate new faces to familiar ones and begin to build chemistry among the group. However, these next few weeks will also provide the Saints with an early look at some key defensive position battles and how their roster is set to shake out for the 2023 NFL season. Here are some of the things we want to learn about the Saints' defense during OTAs.

Jul 29, 2022; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen directs safety Marcus Maye (6) during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Will we get an early glimpse at the battle for the second cornerback spot?

Jul 28, 2022; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (27) reacts after a catch during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is the team's lockdown, No. 1 cover corner, but the spot opposite him has seen dispute all offseason among fans. Second-year corner Alontae Taylor and third-year corner Paulson Adebo will be a pair of the most intriguing defenders to watch throughout offseason workouts and training camp. 

Adebo was the incumbent starter after an impressive rookie season allowing just 65% of his targets to be caught while also turning in 4 pass breakups and 3 interceptions. But Taylor had a strong rookie outing as well while Adebo battle injuries in 2022. Taylor outperformed all Saints cornerbacks last year allowing only 45.3% completion rate. He also topped the team by allowing only 9.8 yard per catch and added in more teams highs in forced incompletions (12) and pass breakups (8) per Pro Football Focus.

Assuming that both are present for OTAs, New Orleans could begin to get an early look at one of its key position battles. If nothing else, everyone will be on the field at the mandatory minicamp following the three weeks of OTAs. But bottom line, the jumping off point for the team's most interesting position battle of the offseason is on the horizon.

How will the newly assembled defensive line look?

Jan 2, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) and defensive tackle David Onyemata (93) walk off the field together after forcing the Carolina Panthers to punt in the second quarter at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan is the only returning starter on this year's defensive line for the Saints. While there are additional players returning, the amount of new faces on the unit is unmistakable. 

The Saints used their first two draft picks this year on the defensive line. They selected Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and Notre Dame edge defender Isaiah Foskey and added two key free agents in the interior with Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd. OTAs will provide the first opportunity to see how this new-look unit begins to mesh and build chemistry.

It will also be interesting to see where each of the new faces lines up. The assumption is that Saunders will play more of a 1-tech or nose tackle role while Shepherd assumes former defensive tackle David Onyemata's role as a penetrating and attacking 3-tech pass rusher. Shepherd had a top-10 pass rush win rate for the position per Pro Football Focus and the Saints are hoping that will translate to their system in 2023.

Will safety Smoke Monday be present?

May 14, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints safety Smoke Monday (28) during rookie camp at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Find you someone that loves you the way that Saints fans love Smoke Monday. The former Auburn safety and (surprisingly) a part of last year's undrafted free agency class, Monday missed his rookie season due to a training camp injury sending him to preseason injured reserve.

Now, if he is cleared and back on the field, Monday will finally get his next opportunity to show New Orleans how he can contribute. The safety is wildly athletic and carries a lot of energy. But he is now a part of a crowded safety room following the additions of veterans Ugo Amadi, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and Jonathan Abrams and rookie Jordan Howden. He will have to work hard to separate himself from the pack, but he should have ample opportunity to do so.

Will there be a battle for starting slot cornerback?

Dec 5, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Bradley Roby (21) runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Last year's incumbent starter at the position Bradley Roby will have his hands full with competition this offseason. Or so we expect. Players like the aforementioned safeties, Monday included, all have experience in the slot. Roby's $3.38 million cap savings is one of the larger post-June 1 transactions the Saints could make. It feels like there is a good chance that a slot battle is on the way. Perhaps OTAs will provide an early glimpse at whether or not one will play out. And if so, who all will be involved.

Will linebacker D'Marco Jackson be present?

May 14, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker D'Marco Jackson (52) during rookie camp at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Much like Monday, Jackson has been a common point of conversation this offseason. Especially with the departure of breakout linebacker Kaden Elliss and with the team having yet to add a veteran linebacker, Jackson's door looks wide out. But has he recovered well enough from last year's preseason injury to compete?

The linebackers roles behind starters Demario Davis and Pete Werner will be another must-see position battle for the team. Like Monday, a path to a bigger role could be available to Jackson because a potential roster bubble candidate: Zack Baun.

A move off of Baun's contract post-June 1 saves the team $1.24 million against the cap. His primary role as of late has been on special teams while being a key sub-package linebacker that can contribute in the run game and rush the passer. All of those skills are ones that Jackson excelled in during his collegiate years at Appalachian State. A solid early performance by Jackson could place him firmly in position to take on a large role if his injuries do not slow him down.