Saints Training Camp Preview: Safety

A Saints safety position with several new faces needs more big plays from their top two performers in 2023.

The New Orleans Saints entered the 2022 season facing the daunting task of replacing their top three safeties from the previous two years. Veteran Malcolm Jenkins retired, Marcus Williams had moved on in free agency, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was traded during training camp in a contract dispute. 

The Saints countered those losses with a couple of splashy free-agent additions. New Orleans native and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu was brought home. The playmaking Marcus Maye was signed away from the Jets. Veteran Daniel Sorensen was also added to join versatile P.J. Williams and Justin Evans as depth. 

New Orleans ranked second against the pass defensively in 2022. This despite a 10-game injury absence of elite CB Marshon Lattimore. However, the team's safeties did very little to earn that lofty ranking. 

Maye missed seven games with injuries and made very little impact on the field. Sorensen, despite two interceptions, was a coverage liability, as was Evans. Mathieu played much closer to expectations down the stretch, but struggled mightily early in the year.

The Saints allowed P.J. Williams, Sorensen, and Evans to hit the free-agent market this offseason. Maye and Mathieu return, but a bevy of new faces were added as depth. Here's a look at the team’s safety position as they prepare for the official start of training camp next week. 

Saints Training Camp Roster - Safety 

Sep 11, 2022; New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Maye (6) strips the ball from Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) as safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) looks to make a tackle. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY

• Tyrann Mathieu 

• Marcus Maye 

• Lonnie Johnson 

• Jordan Howden*

• Johnathan Abram 

• Smoke Monday 

• J.T. Gray 

• Ugo Amadi 

(* = Rookie)

Dec 5, 2022; Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans (13) catches a pass while defended by New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu (32). Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY

Mathieu had a horrible start with the Saints that saw him consistently out of position for tackles and in coverage. He'd rebound nicely to lead the team with three interceptions, broke up eight passes, forced or recovered two fumbles, and allowed 62.7% completion rate in man coverage. He also finished second on the defense with a career-high 91 tackles, which included three for loss and a team-high 64 solo stops. 

Capable of being a difference maker in the tackle box, as a slot corner, or in deep support, expect Mathieu to have a much better second year with New Orleans. Now 31, Mathieu has always had elite instincts. With the comfort of a second year in the defense, we should see many more big plays from the 31-year-old Mathieu. 

The Saints certainly hope that Maye hits the same sort of level that we saw from Mathieu to end last season. After six interceptions and 23 passes broken up in his first 53 games with the Jets, Maye failed to pick off a pass and broke up just two with the Saints. A natural free safety with excellent range, a rebound from Maye wound allow the defense to use Mathieu in more creative ways.

Lonnie Johnson was signed in free agency and will get the first crack to assume the roles filled by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and P.J. Williams. Johnson has good size and will be used primarily in the slot.

Jordan Howden was drafted in the fifth round out of Minnesota and should be Johnson's primary competition for slot safety. Howden showed terrific versatility in college. We'll also see him working as deep support throughout the preseason. 

Abram has been somewhat of a disappointment as a 2019 first-round choice by the Raiders. A liability in coverage, Abram is a hard hitter who can be a factor around the line of scrimmage and could be an asset in two-deep alignments. Looking to revitalize his career, Abram brings many of the same rugged playing style that the Saints enjoyed with Malcolm Jenkins. 

Jul 28, 2022; New Orleans Saints safety Smoke Monday (38) catches a pass during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Quindarius ''Smoke'' Monday is a fan favorite and could be a darkhorse contributor. An undrafted rookie in 2022, he was sidelined for the year with an injury in training camp after a promising start. A fierce competitor always looking for the big play, Monday must show better reactive instincts. If the playmaking skills that he showed at Auburn in college convert to the pros, Monday has more than enough ability to grab a roster spot.

Gray is seldom used in the defense. However, he's one of the NFL's top special teams players. Howden and Monday will have to play well on special teams to secure their spots, but Gray will be difficult to supplant from the roster. One candidate could be Amadi, who comes in with a similar special teams resume' via free agency. 

Expect the Saints keep at least five safeties and as many as six on their 53-man roster to enter the year. Mathieu and Maye are locks. Johnson and Howden should be considered early favorites because of their versatility, but this is a position that will be hotly contested throughout preseason.