- It sounds like defensive tackle Jay Bromley and offensive lineman Michael Ola, who were signed earlier this month by the Saints, have a real chance at making the final cut. “Both guys we have a vision for,” coach Sean Payton said this week (via Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune). “They’re positions that are hard to find once the season gets started.”
The Saints announced the signing of third-round wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith. With that deal done, the Saints now have all of their draft picks under contract. 
Smith, a 6’2″ receiver out of UCF, was the Saints’ second-highest pick in this year’s draft class thanks to their 2017 deal with the Niners that allowed them to select running back Alvin Kamara. Although there were players the Saints would have liked to have at No. 59 overall this year, it’s safe to say the trade was worthwhile.
Heading into the draft, many viewed Smith as a fourth or fifth-round prospect. The Saints clearly did not agree with that assessment as they grabbed him late in the third. Armed with a quick first step and a freakish wingspan, the Saints believe that Smith can be molded into a quality contributor.
Here’s a look at the Saints’ complete 2018 draft class:
- 1-14: Marcus Davenport, DE (UTSA): Signed
- 3-91: Tre’Quan Smith, WR (UCF): Signed
- 4-127: Rick Leonard, T (Florida State): Signed
- 5-164: Natrell Jamerson, S (Wisconsin): Signed
- 6-189: Kamrin Moore, CB (Boston College): Signed
- 6-201: Boston Scott, RB (Louisiana Tech): Signed
- 7-245: Will Clapp, G (LSU): Signed
- The Saints gave UDFA tight end Deon Yelder $90K guaranteed to sign, Joel Erickson of The Advocate notes. A former wide receiver recruit at Western Kentucky, Yelder spent time behind current Rams tight end Tyler Higbee and current Seahawks left tackle George Fant while with the Hilltoppers prior to receiving plenty of playing time last season. New Orleans has struggled to replace Jimmy Graham and recently cut Coby Fleener. Yelder will try to make a team that has 37-year-old Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill atop its depth chart.
- The Saints will convert UDFA tight end Nate Wozniak to tackle, Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com reports. A University of Minnesota product who caught just 28 passes in four seasons, the 6-foot-10 Wozniak weighed only 268 pounds at his pro day. He’s coming in north of 280 now and is aiming to get to 300, per Katzenstein, who adds other teams pursued Wozniak in hopes of converting him to tackle.
Josh LeRibeus played in 16 games for the Saints last season and will attempt to carve out a spot on New Orleans’ 53-man roster for a second straight year.
The defending NFC South champions re-signed the free agent offensive lineman on Friday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. LeRibeus signed a one-year deal with the Saints last year as well. He reached an agreement to return to New Orleans after working out for the 49ers earlier this month.
A former third-round Redskins pick in 2012, LeRibeus has mostly served as a depth component in his career. His lone season with consistent first-string opportunities came in 2015 for the Redskins. The 29-year-old blocker saw action in 217 snaps in 2017, profiling as a better pass-blocking lineman than helping create run lanes.
The Saints lost Senio Kelemete to the Texans in free agency but reacquired Jermon Bushrod and will have Andrus Peat back healthy. New Orleans also used fourth- and seventh-round picks on linemen, so it’s not a given LeRibeus will make the team again.
The Saints have had a relatively busy offseason, but things have seemingly ramped up for the organization over the past few weeks. After making seven selections during last month’s draft, New Orleans subsequently made headlines for several reasons.
The team released veteran tight end Coby Fleener, who had spent two seasons with the organization (including a 2016 campaign where he hauled in 50 receptions). We later learned that running back Mark Ingram had been hit with a four-game suspension, and reports later indicated that the former first-rounder would be skipping the offseason program.
Clearly, it’s been a busy couple of weeks for the Saints. Coach Sean Payton recently discussed these subjects, and he also touched on some of his rookies and tryout players. NewOrleansSaints.com has the entire interview, but we’ve highlighted some of the notable soundbites below:
On Mark Ingram’s four-game suspension:
“It happens in our league. We receive the same notice when him and his agent are receiving the notice and you deal with it. It goes under PED’s but I know Mark well enough to know it wasn’t a performing enhancing drug. He’ll better be able to explain the other parts of it, but it happened with Willie (Snead when he was suspended) last year, so you adjust like it would be an injury.”
On Ingram’s absence from OTAs:
“No. Listen, we spoke a couple times before the offseason program started, and it is what it is. He’ll know what to do. Now do I think he should be here? Yes, but it’s optional and we’ll see him at the minicamp.”
On the decision to release tight end Coby Fleener, and whether the team had planned the transaction earlier this offseason:
“Well, I don’t know that I would say that. He’s still working through the process of getting cleared and he’s still working through being without symptoms, but I also felt like for the team it was something that was going to be best for us.”
On what the team looks for in their quarterbacks (the Saints are currently rostering undrafted rookie (and former Ohio State product) J.T. Barrett):
“How accurate is he? Does he complete passes in time? Does he get through his progressions? How quickly does he learn? Can he get to the huddle and call the play? Can he handle the cadence? His ability to ingest, process and go ahead and take it to the field.
“There is a leadership presence about [Barrett]. He is in an athlete. He has played a lot of competitive football and he has handled this camp very well. (He has) A lot of the things that you look for in that position. He was certainly worthy of being drafted and he has done a good job here.”
On what the team looks for in “veteran trial” players (NFL teams are allowed to audition up to five of these players):
“We have a vision for them. What kind of shape they are in? They have played so what do we think they can do to help us. We have (veteran tryout players at) a handful of positions, but we have had players (that we’ve signed). Billy Miller found his way onto the roster that way. So it is really about how quickly they’re getting up to speed, the same evaluation that is taking place with the rest of the players.”
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: QB Nick Stevens
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: DT Dalton Keene
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: OT Jeromy Irwin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Shaheed Salmon, WR Thomas Sperbeck
- Released: LB Jeff Knox
John Theus has found a new home. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the offensive tackle has been claimed off waivers by the Titans. The 24-year-old was waived by the Saints yesterday. To make room on the roster, the Titans have waived/injured defensive lineman Antwaun Woods (via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com).
The 2016 fifth-round pick out of Georgia has bounced around the league since joining the NFL, spending time with the 49ers, Panthers, and Saints. He has appeared in four career games (including a single start), but he didn’t see the field during the 2017 campaign. The offensive lineman landed on New Orleans’ injured reserve earlier this month with an undisclosed illness.
Theus will likely have an uphill battle to make the Titans roster, as the organization is already rostering a number of capable tackles. Behind projected starters Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin (who could miss time with a knee ailment), Kevin Pamphile, Corey Levin, Dennis Kelly, and Tyler Marz are all competing for playing time.
Woods, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of USC, has spent his entire career with the Titans organization. The 25-year-old appeared in one game during his rookie campaign, compiling three tackles.
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DE Patrick Afriyie, WR Justice Liggins, WR Nelson Spruce
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: RB Nick Holley, S Afolabi Laguda, TE Codey McElroy, S Steven Parker, LB Brian Womac
- Waived/injured: LB Carlos Thompson
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: DT Dylan Bradley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB KeShun Freeman, WR Eldridge Massington, FB Ryan Yurachek
- Released: LB Michael Mauti
- Waived from injured reserve: T John Theus
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: CB Jordan Thomas
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Nick Williams
On the cusp of his contract year, Saints outside linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha has switched agencies. Kikaha is now represented by power agent Drew Rosenhaus (Twitter link). 
Injuries have held Kikaha back over the course of his three-year NFL tenure. The second-round pick out of Washington missed all of 2016 with a torn ACL. Then, last year, he missed four games due to injury, including the final two weeks after suffering an ankle injury. An ankle malady also interrupted his otherwise productive rookie season.
The Saints shopped Kikaha before the 2017 trade deadline, likely in an effort to recoup the draft capital spent on moving up for running back Alvin Kamara. We haven’t heard much on that front this offseason, but Kikaha is thinking about his future beyond 2018 either way.
Last year, Kikaha had four sacks and ten total tackles as a reserve. He saw time on just 209 snaps in total and is likely itching to show what he can do in a larger sample. The Saints project to start Craig Robertson and free agent addition Demario Davis on the strongside and weakside, respectively, putting Kikaha and Manti Te’o in line for bench roles.