ROOKIE CAMP

Saints rookie minicamp starts today, as there will be a three-day session for all the 'new recruits' New Orleans got through the draft and by agreeing to terms with undrafted rookie free agents. There's also going to be a considerable number of tryout players, 16 to be exact, hoping to impress the team and earn a spot.

We'll see the rookie class for the first time on Saturday for a short period. Despite it not being a long session, those hours will tell us a lot, however. It'll be the first time we see Kellen Moore in action, as well as many of the other new coaches. So, what are we looking for when we hit the field? Mike, Nick, and I weigh in.

What We Want to See At Saints Rookie Minicamp

John: Saints rookie minicamp. First real exposure to the team and coaches. Let's start with what we're expecting to see here.

Mike: I guess we won’t really know anything if Banks just lines up at left tackle, because Taliese Fuaga and the rest of the veterans won’t be participating until OTAs start on May 20. But if Banks lines up anywhere else – say, right tackle or left guard – then we’ll have a pretty big clue of their plans for him.

Shough, meanwhile, is a guy that we can actually start to evaluate based on what he’s doing on the field. Our glimpses of him will be very limited in whatever drills they run when Saturday’s practice session is open to the media. But our eyes will be glued to his every move throughout this spring and summer.

Nick: For me, it’s really just about impressions. How does Tyler Shough carry his pads? Does he have leadership skills that pop out? How does his arm look? I’m sure a lot will be made of every single thing he does — he is a quarterback, after all — but you have to take it with a grain of salt. Was that incomplete pass inaccurate or the result of a guy throwing to someone he has never thrown to before? Those are the things you have to consider.

What I usually do is look for guys with movement skills or size that pops off the field. I don’t go looking for guys, usually. I go out there and try to figure out who forces me to take notice. And you know who those players will be, right? It’ll be the second-year guys who get invited for some extra work, and there will be someone who stands head and shoulders over everyone else out there just because they know what they’re doing. And guess what? That guy will get hyped. It’s just that time of year. There’s not a lot of lasting value to be found at this session, but it’s just always cool to have actual football to discuss.

John: Yeah, where Banks Jr. lines up won’t totally be irrelevant. Fuaga was at left tackle last year during rookie minicamp, and that ended up getting downplayed, but was telling. We’ll have to see if Moore tips his hand any there.

I remember last year how impressed we were with the operation. Klint Kubiak and Andrew Janocko felt way different, and that was refreshing. We’ll get to see what some of these coaches are like early on, even if it’s just briefly.

The hype is real from that small window. I think we all liked what we saw out of Spencer Rattler in his first outing. That's a good call on second-year players participating. Last year had players like Jordan Mims, Anfernee Orji, and Michael Jacobson there. I remember Mims telling me last year that he wanted to make a good impression on the new staff.

I’ll also add on that we’ll see who’s dealing with anything, because that was a thing last year. Nick, you reported the sports hernia surgery for Jaylan Ford last year. Josiah Ezirim also had a ‘minor’ injury, so that’s also what we'll be looking for.

John: Aside of Shough and Banks Jr., is there any one particular player you’re really excited to see?

Nick: I hope we get to see James Burnip punt. That’s one thing I think we could know right away. And even if we don’t, there could be some buzz if he’s the real deal. It was during rookie camp when a source walked up to Mike and me in the parking lot and went, “Wait until you see Grupe kick.” Well, we eventually did, and we’re still watching.

Going a little deeper down the list, I want to see how Moliki Matavao moves. Tight end is a need. Could he be the answer? I’m also looking forward to seeing UDFA RB Marcus Yarns. He has a real good pedigree and measurables. He’s my early target for dark horse of the year.

Mike: The next few draft picks will all be hard to evaluate in non-padded practices with no tackling (DL Vernon Broughton, hard-hitting S Jonas Sanker, and off-ball LB Danny Stutsman). But I am curious to see how Broughton, CB Quincy Riley, and RB Devin Neal move.

And I’ll throw an even darker horse out there: QB Hunter Dekkers, who is only coming in for a tryout this weekend. But Nick first put him on my radar early in the draft process as someone the Saints might target if they didn’t draft a QB early. The talent is definitely enticing, but he’s had to take the long road after a gambling punishment banned him from Iowa State and the NCAA.

John: Getting excited about a punter is real talk. Another year and another kicking competition. It’s tough keeping a spot there, and that makes several years in a row it’s happening. I wonder how much Phil Galiano takes from Darren Rizzi this year. Think that’s a big keep that flies under the radar.

Like the Yarns pick a lot. Delaware got really creative in how they used him, and Moore feels like he could use someone like that. Big opportunity at a spot that’s very questionable and open for competition outside of AK. I think that’s what’s so appealing about Neal, too. You see a lot of flash.

If there's no Derek Carr in the picture, it would be fascinating to see if Dekkers would come to camp and compete with someone like Jake Haener at first. Of course, I'm just spitballing here off a tryout player, but maybe something is there. It's just good to have football back, even if it is just for a short period like this.