Competition heating up at wide receiver for Saints

The preseason is the time NFL front offices evaluate the talent on their roster. For the New Orleans Saints, special attention is being given to the group of wide receivers. Bleacher Report provided a brief update on the Saints camp battle at Wide Receiver.

Defensive backs can’t cover the New Orleans Saints’ Michael Thomas. The rest of the team’s wide receiver corps is suspect.

Ted Ginn Jr. is a 12-year veteran with more than enough speed, even at this point in his career, to take the top off opposing defenses. Everyone knows what to expect of him.

It’s adding the pieces around these two to maximize the Saints’ offensive personnel.

Third-round rookie Tre’Quan Smith has been the star of training camp so far and led the Saints with four receptions for 48 years against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

”I’m not afraid of expectations if they’re held high,” Smith told the Times-Picayune (via 247 Sports’ James Parks). “I know I’m a competitor, and just being a competitor, you want things to be hard. You don’t want nothing to come easy.”

Smith brings what Brandin Cooks once did: the ability to create after the catch—which will allow Sean Payton to expand his play-calling.

The organization is searching for more options. The team released Brandon Coleman and signed Michael Floyd earlier this month. Also, Cameron Meredith continues his return from last year’s torn ACL.

The pieces are available, but the overall picture has yet to fully materialize.

In addition to the aforementioned Thomas, Ginn, Meredith, Smith and Floyd, the Saints also have free agent addition Brandon Tate and UDFA Keith Kirkwood battling for a roster spot.

Once the starters leave the game in the Saints’ second preseason game, it will be interesting to see who takes advantage of their opportunities to grab a hold of the job.