Best Guess: Projecting Saints 53-man roster

The New Orleans Saints enter their final preseason game with the Los Angeles Rams facing some significant decisions regarding the 53-man roster to be announced this weekend.

The acquisition of Teddy Bridgewater changes the quarterback room at the expense of Tom Savage but other positions are trickier.

Will Boston Scott make the final roster ahead of Shane Vereen? Could you risk putting the rookie running back through waivers to put him on the practice squad?

Will Cam Meredith open the season on the active list or face an extended injured reserve stint? If he is not active, Austin Carr would appear to be the direct beneficiary of making the final roster.

Will Jermon Bushrod stick as the reserve tackle and guard or will rookies, including Rick Leonard and Will Clapp, take roster spots behind a very good front five?

Will Dan Arnold make it at tight end or will he be edged out by veterans?

Who among George Johnson, Mitchell Loewen, Taylor Stallworth and Davaroe Lawrance will make it as reserves on the defensive line?

Will the Saints keep five, six or seven linebackers?

Will the Saints add players from other teams who get released after the initial 53 is announced (an offensive tackle, for example)?

All are good questions.

I’ll take my best guess.

Saints projected final 53:
QB: (3) Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, Taysom Hill
RB: (3) Alvin Kamara, Boston Scott, Jonathan Williams, (Mark Ingram to miss 4 games suspended)
FB: (1) Zack Line
WR: (5) Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Ted Ginn, Austin Carr, Brandon Tate (Cam Meredith put on short-term IR, can return in 8 weeks)
OL: (9) Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat, Max Unger, Larry Warford, Ryan Ramczyk, Rick Leonard, Will Clapp, Josh Leribeus, Cameron Tom
TE: (3) Ben Watson, Josh Hill, Dan Arnold, (Michael Hoomanawanui put on NFI non-football injury list)
DL: (9) Cam Jordan, Marcus Davenport, Trey Hendrickson, Alex Oklafor, Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison, David Onyamata, Davoroe Lawrence, Mitchell Loewen
LB: (7) Manti Te’o, Demario Davis, Alex Anzalone, A.J. Klein, Craig Robertson, Nate Stupar, Jayrone Elliott
DB: (10) Marshon Lattimore-Ken Crawley- Patrick Robinson-P. J. Williams- Arthur Maulet-Vonn Bell-Kurt Coleman-Marcus Williams (S)-Natrell Jamerson-Chris Banjo
K: (1) Will Lutz
P: (1) Thomas Morstead
LS: (1) Zach Wood