It may still only be rookie minicamps, but after a long offseason, some sort of football is back. The New Orleans Saints rookies will be given a chance to compete early in the offseason and show the team and media what they have to offer. Here are three things fans should be looking out for at the rookie minicamps.
Tyler Shough’s arm talent and creativity
Tyler Shough’s arm talent will be on full display at rookie minicamp. Shough is joined by former Iowa State quarterback, Hunter Dekkers, as the only quarterbacks participating. This will allow the former Louisville Cardinal to get ample reps.
One of the premier qualities of Shough’s game is his arm talent and creativity. He is constantly contorting his arm angles or throwing it on the run to find an open lane. This creates some highlight reel passes as he’s drifting one way just to throw it back across his body. Be on the lookout for Shough to impress a lot of people and put on a clinic at minicamp.
Jonas Sanker’s versatility
One of the most intriguing qualities of Jonas Sanker’s game is his versatility. In 2024 he played 358 snaps as a box safety, 282 as a free safety, 139 in the slot and 17 on the defensive line. He’s a defensive coordinator's dream as he can play anywhere they need.
The Saints will likely play Sanker at a variety of positions as they need to develop depth for their defensive backs. Brandon Staley will have the opportunity to see him in person playing multiple spots in the secondary. This will allow him to know where he can implement Sanker to be most impactful for the game. Don’t be surprised to see number 33 everywhere on the field during minicamp.
Quincy Riley's ball skills
Quincy Riley put his pass coverage ability, particularly his ball skills, on full display at the Reese's Senior Bowl in early February. Don’t be surprised to see this trend continue at the Saints rookie minicamp. Riley has excellent ball skills and ability to recover on routes.
The Saints lost both Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo this year. That creates an opportunity for Riley to step up and make an immediate impact. A crucial part in that is showing up during the offseason. If Riley can shut down the likes of Donvan Peoples-Jones and undrafted free agent Moochie Dixon he will put himself in a great spot heading into OTA’s.