The Saints report for training camp today under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. All eyes will be on the quarterback room to see who wins the starting job. neworleans.football reporter Mike Triplett says it will be a true open position battle between second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler and second-round pick Tyler Shough.
“The best-case scenario, I don’t know if it would be the tie breaker, is that Tyler Shough proves he’s ready to win this job and looks like he has the higher ceiling and looks like he’s ready to start week one. I think everybody would love that for this team,” Triplett said.
Triplett highlighted a packed wide receiver room with names like Bub Means, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Michael Tipton, and a crowded defensive tackle spot as other position battles to watch. He says he’ll be keeping an eye on former first-round pick Trevor Penning’s move from tackle to left guard.
“They gave him every snap in OTAs at minicamp. So they give him every opportunity to prove he can handle that job, but there’s some veterans on this roster that would replace him as he can’t,” Triplett said.
The Saints also welcome a nine-player draft class that Triplett says they need to hit on. D-tackle Vernon Broughton, linebacker Danny Stutsman and running back Devin Neal are just a few names that could compete for playing time. Triplett says the development of ninth overall pick, Kelvin Banks, is the most important of any player on the team.
“He’s the highest draft pick this team has had since 2008. I like that they used it on a left tackle. I think that’s an important building block position. He started for the last three plus years at Texas. He should be ready to rock right away,” Triplett noted.
The Saints will hold their first practice tomorrow and begin preseason August 10th in Los Angeles against the Chargers.
