4 Saints players on their last leg in 2022
By Kristen Wong
Saints player No. 2: Bradley Roby
Cornerback Bradley Roby signing an extension with the Saints this offseason came as a faint surprise, as Roby could be considered one of the more expendable players after an unimpressive first season in NOLA.
The Saints traded for Roby in September of last year, and some hoped Roby would make an immediate impact much like Janoris Jenkins did in 2019. Long story short: he did not.
In 14 games in 2021, Roby recorded a career-low 23 combined tackles yet did nab an interception along with five passes defended. He didn’t fit into the defense as well as NOLA would have hoped, but the Saints kept him on for 2022 for roster depth, at the very least.
Then, in the 2022 draft, the Saints selected Alontae Taylor in the second round, adding youth and upside to their thin cornerback room.
In 2022, the Saints’ starting cornerbacks will likely be some combination of Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, and Taylor with Ceedy Duce/ P.J. Williams in the slot; Roby does offer seasoned experience but may only step in if Lattimore gets hurt.
The 30-year-old Roby could also free up some salary cap space for the Saints if he gets released (much like Latavius Murray’s situation last year). It seems as though the Saints don’t need Roby’s veteran presence as much as they did in 2021, and Roby could have a permanent place on the bench by mid-season.