Three Saints Veterans on the Roster Bubble

These New Orleans veterans could be in the fight of their lives to continue their careers with the Saints this summer.

The New Orleans Saints begin OTA workouts this week. It'll be the first real chance for on-field team work, though very limited, for a roster that had a lot of additions this offseason.

New Orleans has been extremely aggressive with personnel moves after missing the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. Here are a few Saints veterans who have had mostly unchallenged roster spots the last few years. They may now be on the roster bubble before training camp even begins. 

DT - Malcolm Roach 

Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) scrambles away from New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Malcolm Roach (97). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Undrafted out of Texas in 2020, Roach is the only holdover from a defensive tackle spot that severely underperformed in 2022. It's a position that was pushed around all season for a 24th ranked run defense. They've also contributed a paltry 13.5 of the team’s 94 sacks in the last two years. 

For his part, Roach played in a career-high 13 contests and had a sack and two tackles for loss among 26 total stops. All were the best marks of his three-year career, as were his 315 defensive snaps. 

Roach, who turns 25 next month, isn't much of a pass rusher. He has just 8 career pressures to go along with his one sack. At 6'3" and 290-Lbs., he's always been a solid run defender with a nice initial burst and strength at the point of attack. 

After not initially being offered a contract at the start of free agency, Roach was re-signed just before the draft. New Orleans let tackles David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle, and Kentavius Street sign elsewhere. To replace them, the Saints signed Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders in free agency and spent a first-round choice on Bryan Bresee. 

Malcolm Roach could still be a complementary part of the interior rotation. He'll be challenged for a spot by undrafted rookie Jerron Cage, Prince Emili, and newly signed XFL lineman Jack Heflin.

LB - Zack Baun 

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) is hit by New Orleans Saints linebacker Zack Baun (53) as he throws. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY

The 26-year-old Baun was the first of two third-round picks by the Saints in the disappointing 2020 draft. It was hoped that he could carve a role in the New Orleans defense after 12.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and an interception in his final year as a stand-up defensive end at Wisconsin.

Baun was never a good fit for the Saints scheme. He's too small (6'3", 225-Lbs.) to be an effective defensive end in their 4-man front and lacks the range or instincts to be an off-ball linebacker. As a result, Baun has played only 359 combined defensive plays in three years - just 10% of that unit's snaps.

Baun played arguably his most productive game against San Francisco in Week 12. He had five tackles, the third highest total of his career, which included one stop for loss and two QB pressures. 

The Saints normally deploy just two linebackers in most situations. Demario Davis and Pete Werner are those two, making up one of the league's best tandems. When Werner went down with injury last season, Kaden Elliss performed spectacularly in his place.

Zack Baun has been a valued member of the special teams unit. However, he'll likely have to show a lot more to keep a New Orleans roster spot in 2023.

With Elliss departed in free agency, Baun will most likely get the first shot at replacing him as the third linebacker on early downs and short yardage situations. He'll have competition. Coaches are high on D'Marco Jackson, a 2022 fifth-round choice. Undrafted rookies Anfernee Orji and Nick Anderson could also have a big say in the depth chart. 

WR - Tre'Quan Smith 

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) catches a pass against Carolina Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn (21). Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

A third-round choice out of UCF in 2018, Smith is the last of the Saints' seven picks from that year still with the franchise. He tantalized some with two extremely productive games as a rookie, but that's literally been about it through his career. 

The 27-year-old Smith had 19 catches for 278 yards and a score over 15 games in 2022, with 105 of those coming in Week 3 against Carolina. After losing Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, and Deonte Harty early in the year with injuries, the Saints needed someone to step up at receiver. Smith's average of less than 13 yards per game over the final 14 contests have been right on par for his career. 

At 6'2" and 210-Lbs. with good speed, Smith has all the physical attributes. However, none of it has translated to success on the field. Outside of two terrific games as a rookie, he's done nothing for a New Orleans offense desperate for a playmaker. 

In 70 career games, including playoffs, Smith has 136 receptions for 1,874 yards. He's had two or fewer catches in 39 of those games and less than 45 yards in 57 contests. 

Smith's defenders will point to the fact that he's a strong blocker, which is true. He's also been a solid target in the red zone. A receiver's primary job is to get open, catch the ball, and make plays. Smith has simply failed to get separation or make plays consistently at any point in his career. 

New Orleans Saints receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) can't hold on to the ball against Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (31). Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY

It's not like Smith didn't have opportunities. Thomas has missed 40 of the last 50 regular season games and the team invested little else at the position until using a 2022 first-round pick on Chris Olave.

The Saints look much deeper at wideout this season. Thomas returns, and if healthy could team with Olave to make a terrific tandem. Surprising 2022 rookie Rashid Shaheed will have a big role in the offense. 

Tre'Quan Smith will have to offer far more than blocking to earn a spot on this roster. He'll be competing with free-agent acquisitions Bryan Edwards and James Washington, along with sixth-round choice A.T. Perry, just to make the team. 

Two seasons without a playoff berth prompted some aggressive personnel moves this offseason in New Orleans. It also means that roster spots for players who have contributed little previously will not come so easily this summer. 

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