Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL preseason has just gotten underway and teams are preparing to make their final cuts to get their roster down to 53 players. Teams will welcome new faces and see old ones go, and it is always a nerve-racking time for players on the roster bubble. Some players fold under the pressure while others rise to the occasion, and make the coaching staff take a second look at them. One player the New Orleans Saints should take a look at is wide receiver Andy Tanner.
In the Saints’ first preseason game, a 17-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Tanner had a solid game with three catches for 59 yards. Furthermore, one of Tanner’s receptions was for 37 yards and gave the Saints great field position. Even though it was only the first preseason game, Tanner is showing that he is a reliable receiver and can step up whenever.
Despite Joe Morgan’s season-ending injury the Saints are still very deep at wide receiver, and there is a heated battle occurring to replace Morgan as the No. 3 receiver. Tanner, along with Nick Toon, Kenny Stills, and Steve Breaston are all vying for the No. 3 receive spot and it could go to any one of them. However, there have been reports that it is Stills’ spot to lose, and it is a luxury for the Saints to have so many viable options.
Even if Tanner does not win the third receiver slot, he is still very deserving of making the Saints’ 53-man roster. Last season Tanner had a very strong preseason outing, but just missed making the final roster. However, the Saints did sign Tanner to their practice squad, which showed that they still had interest in him. After biding his time on the practice squad I think the Saints should give him a shot and put him on their final roster.
Tanner has decent size at 6-foot, 183 pounds and has proven to be a good deep threat in the Saints’ offense. If anything, the Saints should sign because anyone could get injured at any time and he would provide great depth at wide receiver. Bottom line, Tanner has worked hard and is a good receiver, and if the Saints don’t want to lose him to another team they should give him a spot on the 53-man roster.
Alejandro Aviles is the Featured Writer for the New Orleans Saints at Rant Sports @aaviles312
