Saints have one undrafted rookie whose roster spot should already be secured

Although score is kept in the preseason, the games aren’t about wins and losses. Sure, as a competitor, you want to win everything, but preseason games are just scrimmages— an extension of practice. They help teams determine which players will make the roster, and where they’ll land on the depth chart.

For established veterans, who aren’t competing for roster spots, the preseason is about getting into form. At the other end of the roster are guys fighting for their NFL life every snap.

This has been the reality for New Orleans Saints players through the first two preseason games. Most of the team’s starters are already set, but there are several players fighting for depth roles. With one preseason game remaining, one of those roster-bubble players should already have a roster spot.

That player is rookie cornerback Rico Payton, who has shined in training camp and the preseason.

Rookie corner Rico Payton has been impressive for Saints

Payton signed with New Orleans this offseason after going undrafted out of Pittsburg State. Entering training camp with an extremely low profile, he has quickly turned into someone who should be a roster lock. Making impressive plays in camp, the rookie has carried that over into both preseason games.

Against the Arizona Cardinals, he was the team’s high-graded player by PFF, and impressively forced four incompletions. Against the San Francisco 49ers, he picked up right where he left off, delivering a performance that had Saints fans and media members buzzing.

With his performances, he will likely be a member of New Orleans’ talented secondary. The Saints already have Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, and Kool-Aid McKinstry, so they aren’t really hurting for corners, but Payton has proved he deserves to be on the team.

With the emphasis on passing in today’s NFL, teams can never really have enough defensive backs. That’s especially the case in New Orleans since Lattimore and McKinstry are dealing with injuries. Depth is always important, so it’s good the Saints keep finding guys like Rico Payton.

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