The 2023 saints undrafted free agent class

guillermo said
An annual tradition. This thread is only regarding saints signings, please DO NOT post anything that is not saints related here.

I will be updating the top post with the names of the people we learn are signing with the team, and I will try to add videos in case I can find them.

Signings:

1. Blake Grupe, K, Notre Dame
2. Nick Anderson, LB, Tulane
3. Joel Wilson, TE, Central Michigan
4. Afernee Orji, LB, Vanderbilt
5. Shaquan Davis, WR, South Carolina State
6. Mark Evans, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
7. Alex Pihlstrom, C, Illinois
8. Sa'Rodorick Thompson, RB, Texas Tech
9. Sy Barnett, WR, Davenport
10. Lou Hedley, P, Miami
11. Anthony Johnson, CB, Virginia
12. Jerron Cage, DT, Ohio St
13. Malik Flowers, WR\KR, Montana

Invites to Rookie Mini-Camp:

1. Darius Bratton, DB, Virginia
2. Darrius Nash, DB, Utah Tech
3. Jordan Rhodes, OL, Arkansas St.
4. Izayah Green-May, DE, Northern Illinois
5. Gunnar Henderson, WR, TCU
6. Adonis Boone, OL, Louisville
7. Ellis Merriweather, RB, Massachusetts

jdpower13 said

guillermo said

SonOfNOLA said

guillermo said
Lou Hedley

Who would’ve thought we’d identify our new kicking duo from the same UDFA class and both rookie kicker and punter taking over in week 1? That’s crazy

When they first signed, I was thinking Grupe and Hedley were just competition to mainly push Lutz and Gillikin to get better because of Lutz/Gillikin’s past success but recent struggles, and assuming it’d result in Grupe landing on the practice squad and Hedley as a roster cut. Both of them ended up pushing both Lutz and Gillikin off of the roster by showing consistency in confidence, poise, and efficiency on their kicks in different aspects. Shows how important it is to let competition play out.

Even though they’re considered specialists on ST, we identified two starters at their positions out of the UDFA class. Scouting dept did a great job identifying two immediate successors in the kicking unit in the same undrafted FA.

None of the other undrafted signings made the initial 53 man roster. But I think we spotted another 3 to 4 players we can develop for the future in Shaq Davis, Orji, Mark Evans and Anderson. Davis and Evans will probably be on the 53 at some point this year as depth if they land on the PS, mainly Shaq Davis.

Merriweather was another good find in this UDFA class. He started out as a rookie camp tryout, signed to the roster after rookie camp and proved to be a reliable complete RB in preseason. He should be likely to come back on the PS and be on the roster for the first 3 games of the season.