The New Orleans Saints had a scheduled off-day from their training camp in Irvine, California, on Thursday. They should take advantage of being able to rest because there’s still plenty for the team to work through before the start of the regular season.
Here are the three most pressing decisions New Orleans must make.
Starting offensive line
The unit is already an issue in camp with a revolving door at left guard. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Katherine Terrell observed, “The Saints were rotating a lot at some spots on the [offensive line],” later detailing left guard as a position “they should be very concerned about.”
Nick Saldiveri, a fourth-round pick (No. 103 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, is listed as the first-team left guard on ESPN’s unofficial Saints depth chart. He left Monday’s training camp practice with a calf injury, pushing 2024 free-agent signing Lucas Patrick into the starting role.
The former Chicago Bears lineman is listed as center Erik McCoy’s backup and if he is forced to start at left guard, the team’s depth will be tested.
The Saints are also counting on a bounce-back season from former first-rounder Trevor Penning, who started at left tackle to begin the 2023 season but was benched after five games. New Orleans selected Taliese Fuaga to man the left side and with veteran Ryan Ramczyk (knee) out for the season, Penning is slated to take over at right tackle.
Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler: Who’s Derek Carr’s backup?
Rattler was one of the biggest steals on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft. The former South Carolina Gamecock received a third-round grade from several draft analysts but ultimately fell to New Orleans in the fifth round (No. 150 overall).
Rattler is battling second-year pro Jake Haener to be the team’s second-string quarterback and has already flashed potential in the Saints’ offense.
In the following highlight, Rattler connects with training-camp standout receiver Mason Tipton on a deep bomb for a touchdown.
Haener has had strong moments, too, including this throw to speedster Rashid Shaheed.
Jake Haener to Rashid Shaheed on the deep ball pic.twitter.com/UsM3Ggs7Wx
— John Hendrix (@JohnJHendrix) July 30, 2024
Last week, Haener revealed he had been diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer but passed along that “[i]t’s not going to be like a life-threatening thing right now.” (h/t ESPN)
He added that a procedure is necessary, noting, “We’re just trying to take the necessary steps in order to see how long I can wait until I have to get that procedure done.”
Alvin Kamara’s contract situation
In June, Kamara missed the final week of the team’s minicamp over what his agent, Brad Cicala, said was due to his contract, which contains no guaranteed money after this season. (h/t Terrell)
Kamara decided against holding out and was recently named one of the five standouts of camp by Sports Illustrated’s Ross Jackson.
The five-time Pro Bowler expressed his desire to remain in New Orleans at the start of training camp, telling reporters, “I want to be a Saint. I want to retire here.”
But considering New Orleans hasn’t made the postseason in any of the last three campaigns and has long odds of reaching the playoffs in 2024, the front office might have another idea.
