Who are the dark-horse candidates to make the Saints roster?

Unsettled depth at these two positions could create roster opportunities for a pair of under-the-radar players.

The New Orleans Saints are still evaluating their depth this early in the offseason. With training camp on the horizon, it’ll be interesting to see how the competition shakes out as players duke it out for a roster spot. That said, you should always expect a few surprises when the initial 53-man roster is announced—and in the Saints’ case, keep an eye on the skill positions.

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CB – Rejzohn Wright

For my first dark-horse roster candidate, I’m going with defensive back Rejzohn Wright.

The 24-year-old originally signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2023 after spending three seasons with the Oregon State Beavers, where he recorded 11 pass breakups, four interceptions, one sack and 75 tackles. Wright appeared in all three of Carolina’s preseason games before being waived during final roster cuts. He then spent the remainder of his rookie year on the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad.

Wright joined the Saints in the 2024 offseason and saw action in all three preseason games once again, earning a 79.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus. His standout performance came in Week 2 of the preseason against the San Francisco 49ers, where he tallied five tackles, three stops, and two PBUs over 46 defensive snaps. PFF gave him an 81.5 overall grade and an impressive 82.3 coverage grade for that showing.

At 6-foot-2 and 193 pounds, Wright has good size and is currently listed as the tallest defensive back on the roster. He’s already made plays throughout minicamp, snagging an interception off Saints’ second-round rookie QB Tyler Shough.

With uncertainty looming in the cornerback room behind second-year CB Kool-Aid McKinstry and presumed slot CB Alontae Taylor, Wright is making a strong case to earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster—and I wouldn’t be surprised if he does.

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WR – Kevin Austin Jr.

For my second dark-horse roster candidate, I’m going with WR Kevin Austin Jr.

After a strong UFL stint with the Birmingham Stallions—hauling in 15 receptions on 23 targets for 253 yards and two touchdowns—the 25-year-old signed a one-year deal with New Orleans ahead of the 2024 preseason. Ultimately, the Saints didn’t feel they saw enough from him to crack the initial 53-man roster, and he was waived during final cuts.

But the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish standout didn’t let that setback define him. He re-signed to the Saints’ practice squad the very next day and earned a standard NFL contract by Week 14 after impressing during three straight practice squad elevations. In eight games, Austin Jr. recorded 11 receptions on 21 targets for 151 yards, 10 first downs, and two contested catches.

The stat line might not jump off the page, but the 6-foot-2, 200-pound wideout brings much-needed size to a Saints receiver room otherwise lacking height. He’s one of just four receivers on the roster—alongside second-year WR Bub Means and veteran WRs Donovan Peoples-Jones and Cedrick Wilson Jr.—standing at 6-foot-2 or taller. That size becomes even more significant considering the Saints and Minnesota Vikings are currently the only NFL teams without a receiver listed taller than 6-foot-2 in the building.

Austin Jr. also offers elite athleticism for a guy of his stature. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine and earned a 9.89 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of 10.00—ranking 29th out of 2,557 WRs from 1987 to 2022.

His willingness to throw his body on the line as a blocker will be especially valuable in new Saints HC Kellen Moore’s offensive scheme, and plays like the following will bolster Austin Jr.’s case for a roster spot:

Furthermore, he’s shown signs of a growing connection with second-year QB Spencer Rattler, as seen in these clips from practice—the first from the 2025 offseason program, the second from 2024:

Could Austin Jr. become the over-the-middle receiver the Saints have struggled to find post-Michael Thomas?

What do you think? Which dark-horse candidates will make the Saints’ initial 53-man roster?