Fansided

Juiciest training camp battle for each NFL team

By Brad Weiss

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: The Arizona Cardinals select UCLA Quarterback Josh Rosen tenth overall during the first round of the NFL Draft on April 26, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: The Arizona Cardinals select UCLA Quarterback Josh Rosen tenth overall during the first round of the NFL Draft on April 26, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
22 of 32
Next
METAIRIE, LA. – MAY 24: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Cameron Meredith (81) and wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith (10) participates in drills during New Orleans Saints OTAs on May 24, 2018 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
METAIRIE, LA. – MAY 24: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Cameron Meredith (81) and wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith (10) participates in drills during New Orleans Saints OTAs on May 24, 2018 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Stephen Lew/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints: Cameron Meredith vs. Tre’Quan Smith

The New Orleans Saints deployed a new-look offense last season, and thanks to the balance on that side of the ball, they actually made a return to the playoffs. The running back tandem of Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara chewed up yardage in bunches, leading the Saints to a Wild Card spot in a tough NFC.

This season, it will be the Kamara show for the first four games, as Ingram will be sitting those out due to a suspension for PED use. He should be fine carrying the load, as he proved as a rookie that he can make plays happen in the run game, as well as the passing game.

Staying with the passing game, the Saints shelled out monster money to quarterback Drew Brees this offseason, locking him up for the next two years. Brees has an incredible weapon in the passing game in Michael Thomas, but it will be interesting to see how the depth chart shapes out beneath him in 2018.

During the offseason, the Saints brought in wide receiver Cameron Meredith, who was explosive when healthy for the Chicago Bears in recent years. He is going to be battling Tre’Quan Smith for that No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Thomas, as the team made him their third round pick this past April.

New Orleans also has Ted Ginn on the roster, and he is going to get a lot of playing time as well. This battle between the veteran Meredith, and the rookie Smith is going to be quite interesting, as both can make plays happen in space, but the experience of Meredith may give him the nod over Smith, at least in year one.