Saints Tre'Quan Smith Facing Fierce Battle for Roster Spot

After years of underachieving, time may be running out for New Orleans WR Tre'Quan Smith.

Tre'Quan Smith was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. He was the 10th wideout chosen that year and the 91st overall selection. In three years at Central Florida, Smith caught 164 passes for 2,748 yards and 22 touchdowns, including 59 receptions for 1,171 yards and 13 scores in 2017.

As a rookie, Smith showed some promise in 2018. He caught three passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 5 rout of the Washington Redskins. Smith also hauled in 10 of 13 targets for 157 yards and a score during a blowout of the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11.

Smith finished his rookie campaign with 28 receptions for 427 yards and five touchdowns. Not bad numbers, but a closer look shows that he had just 15 catches for 259 yards in 13 games outside of two strong performances. It turned out to be the high-water mark of his career. 

Disappointing Production 

Dec 8, 2019; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) gets away from San Francisco 49ers defenders in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The 49ers won, 48-46. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

In five years and 66 regular season contests, Smith has 131 receptions for 1,764 yards and 18 touchdowns. He's missed 17 games with injuries, but a bigger frustration has been his lack of productivity when available. 

Despite long stretches of invisibility, Smith was at least a scoring threat. He caught 17 touchdowns over his first four years, adding two more in the playoffs. Even that couldn't be counted on in 2022, as he had a career-worst one scoring reception.

Smith's best statistical season was in 2020, when he caught just 34 passes for 448 yards in 14 games. His worst year was in 2019. He missed six games with injuries and had 18 catches for 234 yards in 11 contests. In reality, his worst year from a statistical average was in 2022.

Smith played in 15 games last season, the most since his rookie year. He caught 19 passes for 278 yards and only one touchdown. Take away his Week 4 performance of 4 catches for 105 yards against Carolina, the third 100-yard outing of his career and first since 2018, then his production was downright abysmal. Outside of that aberration, Smith had 15 receptions for 173 yards in the other 14 games. He had one reception or less in 11 of those games and was completely shut out six times.

In all, Tre'Quan Smith's yearly average is 26 catches for 353 yards. Over his 66 regular season games, he's averaged less than two receptions (1.99) and 26.7 yards per outing. In 70 total games, including playoffs, Smith has been held to two or fewer receptions 39 times (56% of the time) and less than 45 yards 57 times, an incredible 81.4% of the time. 

Failed Opportunities 

Oct 8, 2018; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) runs for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Smith's production wouldn't be considered awful as a complementary weapon. However, the Saints have been desperate for receiving production over the last three years because of injury issues with All-Pro WR Michael Thomas. 

New Orleans has been without Thomas in 40 of their last 50 regular season contests. That includes the last 14 games of 2022, a span where Smith caught just 15 balls for 173 yards. In those 40 contests without Thomas, Smith's contributions were a miniscule average of 2 catches and 25.6 yards per outing. 

At least New Orleans had two outstanding rookies to fall back on in 2022. First-round pick Chris Olave and undrafted surprise Rashid Shaheed emerged as the team’s top two receiving threats without Thomas. Prior to their arrival, Smith had prime opportunity to carve out a major role, but failed miserably. 

In 25 games without Thomas through 2020 and 2021, Smith's per-game average was slightly up, but an equally putrid 2.6 catches and 33 yards. He was held to two or fewer receptions in 11 of those games and less than 45 yards 18 times.

Smith's failures were the epitome of the Saints shortcomings at receiver. The team was forced to rely on aging veteran Emmanuel Sanders for one year, undrafted wideouts Deonte Harty and Marquez Callaway, and journeymen Kevin White and Keith Kirkwood. 

As a result, a traditionally prolific New Orleans passing game screeched to a halt. The Saints slipped to 19th in passing production in 2020, the lowest during the 15-year tenure of QB Drew Brees, and a pathetic 32nd in 2021.

Out of Chances

Dec 9, 2018; New Orleans Saints receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) has a pass knocked away by Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (31). Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Smith is entering the last year of his current deal with New Orleans, although he does have two voided years added onto his contract. He'll cost the team $3.4 million against the salary cap in 2023. It would also cost the Saints just $1.7 in dead cap if they release Smith in training camp. 

It could finally happen for a player that's done little to earn his roster spot in recent seasons. New Orleans will keep five wideouts on their active roster, possibly six if someone other than Shaheed emerges to return kicks. Olave, Thomas, and Shaheed have secured roster spots, leaving a fight for the last two or three jobs.

Smith might have a slight edge because of his experience in the system, but you'd think he'll actually have to produce to hold on to a job. The Saints used a sixth-round draft choice on WR A.T. Perry and signed veteran free agents Bryan Edwards, James Washington, Keke Coutee, and Lynn Bowden in for competition. 

Defenders of Smith will point to the fact that he's a strong blocker, which is true. However, receivers are paid to catch passes and make plays. Smith has never shown the ability to separate from coverage, operates extremely poorly in traffic, has unreliable hands, and has never expanded his limited route tree in five seasons. 

At 6'2" and 210-Lbs. with good straight line speed, Tre'Quan Smith looks the part of an NFL receiver. New Orleans has never seen those attributes translate into a productive player. If any of the newcomers at wideout show potential, it's now past the point for the Saints to move on from Smith.