![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2019/08/usatsi_13160218-1.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
It’s almost here: the 2023 NFL draft is just days away, and the New Orleans Saints are in a good position to add some talented rookies to a roster that’s already built to compete in the wide-open NFC. With three picks in a 42-slot span (at Nos. 29, 40, and 71) they should come away with at least two players who can help out right away.
So what does the projected 53-man roster look like right now? The projection will look very different in just a few weeks once the Saints make their draft selections and finish signing more free agents, so this is a useful exercise to get an idea of their immediate needs going into the draft. One look is all it takes to get an idea of which areas should be priorities on draft day:
Offense (25)
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2019/08/usatsi_13160229-1.jpg)
- Quarterback: 2
- Running back: 3
- Fullback: 1
- Tight end: 3
- Flex: 1
- Wide receiver: 5
- Offensive line: 10
QB Derek Carr
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/03/1472819195.jpg)
QB Jameis Winston
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/12/USATSI_19647020.jpg)
RB Alvin Kamara
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/1453650599.jpg)
RB Jamaal Williams
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/03/USATSI_19495607-1.jpg)
RB Eno Benjamin
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/USATSI_19748105.jpg)
FB Adam Prentice
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/01/USATSI_17444245.jpg)
FLEX Taysom Hill
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/10/1432011590.jpg)
TE Juwan Johnson
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/02/USATSI_19678407.jpg)
TE Adam Trautman
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/USATSI_19748087.jpg)
TE Lucas Krull
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/1418324173.jpg)
LT James Hurst
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/12/1450148816.jpg)
LT Trevor Penning
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/USATSI_19748980.jpg)
LG Andrus Peat
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/12/USATSI_19677164.jpg)
LG Calvin Throckmorton
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/11/1719e54f14e5434ca1a1595ba5b93bc3.jpg)
LG Lewis Kidd
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/USATSI_19285195.jpg)
C Erik McCoy
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/02/USATSI_19726661.jpg)
RG Cesar Ruiz
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/01/USATSI_17144774.jpg)
RT Ryan Ramczyk
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/10/USATSI_19285210.jpg)
RT Landon Young
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2021/11/8fc41670b34340edaf73704c282aa49c.jpg)
RT Storm Norton
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/03/USATSI_17145290.jpg)
WR Michael Thomas
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/1427286479.jpg)
WR Chris Olave
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/USATSI_19748089.jpg)
WR Rashid Shaheed
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/1453649587.jpg)
WR Tre'Quan Smith
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/01/ec392650e6554df4ad6f00ec2e51c1bd.jpg)
WR Bryan Edwards
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/03/USATSI_17512265.jpg)
Special teams (3)
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/08/eefeb88e974b48608ce66985a8c7e739.jpg)
- Punter: 1
- Kicker: 1
- Long snapper: 1
P Blake Gillikin
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/11/USATSI_19285299.jpg)
K Wil Lutz
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2021/03/9c5bb01f7dbb495c9a3bc44977b7b1de.jpg)
LS Zach Wood
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/ab66625fea4c43bcbc914c425d805604.jpg)
Defense (25)
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/06/USATSI_18414719.jpg)
- Defensive line: 9
- Linebacker: 6
- Defensive back: 10
LE Cameron Jordan
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/12/1450107708.jpg)
LE Tanoh Kpassagnon
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/02/USATSI_19677029.jpg)
LE Jabari Zuniga
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/11/USATSI_16915576.jpg)
NT Khalen Saunders
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/02/USATSI_19892340.jpg)
DT Nathan Shepherd
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/03/9197bee9577d4049ab0259e85f1bec3f.jpg)
DT Malcolm Roach
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/USATSI_19710105.jpg)
DT Prince Emili
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/11/61b75e7190be42bda96de68a3e1ee346.jpg)
RE Carl Granderson
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/USATSI_19748083.jpg)
RE Payton Turner
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/11/1441230336.jpg)
MLB Demario Davis
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/11/USATSI_19285281.jpg)
MLB D'Marco Jackson
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/05/USATSI_18270249.jpg)
MLB Andrew Dowell
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/679fa5cadb2a49c28011936f403076d5.jpg)
WLB Pete Werner
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/10/1432031650.jpg)
WLB Ty Summers
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/1453639927.jpg)
SLB Zack Baun
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2021/09/USATSI_16787194.jpg)
SS Tyrann Mathieu
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/1455073795.jpg)
SS Johnathan Abram
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/10/USATSI_17300320.jpg)
FS Marcus Maye
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/02/USATSI_19285217.jpg)
FS J.T. Gray
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/10/USATSI_19165070.jpg)
FS Lonnie Johnson Jr.
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/03/USATSI_13900255.jpg)
SLOT Bradley Roby
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/12/1450139157.jpg)
LCB Paulson Adebo
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/USATSI_19710098.jpg)
LCB Alontae Taylor
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/6aaf4939633b4bfc93ef1b9ba8d20e02.jpg)
LCB Isaac Yiadom
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/03/1445034178.jpg)
RCB Marshon Lattimore
![](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2023/01/1453658611.jpg)