4 takeaways from the New Orleans Saints' first unofficial depth chart

Does it feel real yet? The New Orleans Saints are approaching their first preseason game of 2025, and on Tuesday they released the first unofficial depth chart. This roster is put together by the team's media relations staff, not the coaches, so take it with at least a grain of salt. But it does give us a good idea of how different players stack up inside the building. We'll get a better idea of the shape of things once the Saints kick off Sunday's preseason game with the Los Angeles Chargers.

So what did we learn from this depth chart (which you can see for yourself right here)? Let's break it down with some highlights:

No clarity on the quarterback situation

Here's how the Saints listed their quarterbacks: Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough or Jake Haener. So, in theory, it's anyone's guess which passer is on top. But that doesn't line up with what we've seen at practice. Rattler has been the most successful of the trio and he's also spent the most days with the first-string offense, as well as the second-team unit. The Saints are giving Shough a chance and not shutting the door on Haener, but it's pretty clear at this point that Rattler jumped out to a hotter start than his competition. Can one of them close the gap by September?

Every rookie is a backup, except one

Technically, Shough is a co-starter with Rattler and Haener, but that isn't the same thing as Kelvin Banks Jr. being listed as the starting left tackle. The Saints aren't trying to disguise their intentions for their first-round pick, who is backed up by Landon Young and Barry Wesley on this initial depth chart. No other rookies are named on the starting lineup. Second teamers include cornerback Quincy Riley, a fourth-round draft pick, and James Burnip, the undrafted punter and holder on field goal tries. Every other rookie on the team is listed on the third string or further back in the rotation.

And that makes sense. The Saints either don't want to telegraph their plans for certain players or they're forcing them to outcompete the more-experienced pros ahead of them on the depth chart. It's something we'll be watching closely in Sunday's preseason game to see just how accurate this forecast was.

It's a two-man race to return punts and kickoffs

The same two players are listed on the punt and kick return spots: Rashid Shaheed (first team) and Dante Pettis (second team). That's how it ended up being last year, too, but those aren't the only guys trying their hand at those spots in training camp. Donovan Peoples-Jones has given it a shot, too, and it's something we've seen Kool-Aid McKinstry do in the past. We'll see how often the Saints expose Shaheed in these situations but it feels like a safe assumption they'll want to save the Pro Bowler for the regular season.

Seniority may not matter at running back

It's interesting that the Saints listed Cam Akers ahead of Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the depth chart, but that also feels like the kind of thing we shouldn't dwell on until it pops up during a preseason game. Edwards-Helaire was solid but unremarkable late last season, averaging 3.5 yards per carry behind a banged-up offensive line. That's a full yard lower than what Akers averaged in a dozen games with the Minnesota Vikings last year, but the two sample sizes are wildly different (13 carries against 64). Still, Edwards-Helaire didn't get a boost over Akers for having been on the team last year. Kellen Moore's teams have always kept three running backs, and the battle for that third spot behind Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller is anyone's to win.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: New Orleans Saints: Takeaways from first unofficial depth chart