Saints Roster Cuts: Getting to 53

After two preseason games, the Saints still have several roster spots up in the air, though maybe not as many as you think. The closest battles are at kicker, wide receiver and cornerback. Each week for the rest of the preseason, RapidReports will take a position-by-position look at the players we think will likely make the final cut to 53 on Sept. 2.

QB -- In: (2) Drew Brees, Chase Daniel. Out: Luke McCown, Sean Canfield. Analysis: McCown, a nine-year veteran who started the season opener for Jacksonville last year, should get a better chance to show what he can do in the next two games than in the first two, when the struggling Canfield played in front of him. Still, Daniel is a virtual lock, and the Saints rarely keep three QBs.

RB -- In: (6) Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Mark Ingram, Chris Ivory, Jed Collins (FB), Korey Hall (FB). Out: Travaris Cadet, Joe Banyard. Analysis: Thomas, Sproles, Ingram and Collins are locks. Ivory, the last New Orleans back to rush for 100 yards in a game, is pretty close to one unless he fumbles a couple of times or gets hurt in the next few weeks. That leaves no room for Cadet, the latest in a long line of undrafted free agents to play well for the Saints in the preseason. New Orleans will either keep two fullbacks or four tight ends. The call today is a second fullback. The fourth- and fifth-string tight ends have not caught a pass yet.

WR -- In: (6) Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Adrian Arrington, Courtney Roby, Joe Morgan. Out: Andy Tanner, Marques Clark, Derek Moye. Analysis: This is the toughest position to call. Colston and Moore are locks, and Henderson is awfully close because of his experience despite being unproductive in camp. Interim coach Joe Vitt praised Roby, a special teams star, to the roof Friday. Morgan is inconsistent but may be the Saints’ most dangerous deep threat. For him to have any shot at making the roster, either the gimpy Arrington or rookie Nick Toon will have to be put on injured reserve. Both will make the active roster if healthy, presumably locking out Morgan. Tanner, a slot receiver having a good camp, likely will be signed to the practice squad.

TE -- In: (3) Jimmy Graham, David Thomas, Michael Higgins. Out: Jake Byrne, Derek Schouman. Analysis: Higgins has shown enough to make the team as the third tight end. Byrne and Schouman are running out of chances to earn a spot.

OL -- In: (8) Jermon Bushrod, Jahri Evans, Brian de la Peunte, Ben Grubbs, Zach Strief, Charles Brown, Matt Tennant, Andrew Tiller. Out: Brian Folkerts, Aderious Simmons, Eric Olsen, Fenuki Tupou, Hutch Eckerson, DeOn’tae Pannell. Analysis: The battle here is for the eighth and final spot. Brown is the likely backup tackle, and Tennant is valuable because he can play guard or center. Seventh-round rookie tackle Marcel Jones has done some good things, but he has to beat out Brown. Tiller, a sixth-round pick, is the likely option at backup guard.

DL -- In: (9) Sedrick Ellis, Remi Ayodele, Akiem Hicks, Brodrick Bunkley, Tom Johnson, Junior Galette, Cam Jordan, Turk McBride, Martez Wilson. Out: Braylon Broughton, Tyrunn Walker, Alex Daniels, Swanson Miller, Donovan Robinson. Analysis: DE Will Smith is suspended for the first four games for his role in the bounty scandal and will not count against the 53-man roster. The Saints might keep a fifth end, most likely Broughton or Walker, until Smith returns. Other than that, there aren’t many hard decisions here.

LB -- In: (7) Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne, Scott Shanle, Chris Chamberlain, Will Herring, Jonathan Casillas, Lawrence Wilson. Out: Ramon Humber, Kadarron Anderson, Aaron Tevis, Ezra Butler, Nate Bussey. Analysis: The first six are entrenched, but the Saints usually keep seven. Wilson, an undrafted free agent, made four tackles against New England.

DB -- In: (9) Patrick Robinson, Jabari Greer, Johnny Patrick, Marquis Johnson, Malcolm Jenkins, Roman Harper, Isa Abdul-Quddus, Jonathon Amaya, Corey White. Out: A.J. Davis, Jose Gumbs, Kamaal McIlwain, Cord Parks, Jerico Nelson, Johnny Thomas, Elbert Mack. Analysis: The top four corners are locks, with Patrick and Johnson competing for the nickel spot. Quddus and Amaya have a leg up at reserve safety. White, a rookie fifth-round pick, had a good game against New England after struggling earlier in training camp.

Special teams -- In; (3) Garrett Hartley, Thomas Morstead, Justin Drescher. Out: John Kasay. Analysis: The battle at kicker is tight between the 42-year old Kasay and Hartley. Kasay would have to clearly beat out Hartley because of his age, and he hurt his chances by missing a 41-yarder late against New England.

Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLNO.