With 92 days left until the 2019 regular season kicks off, the New Orleans Saints are about to wrap up their sessions of organized team activities. The third session, which started on June 3rd, will end on Thursday, June 6th. While the pads are still hanging up, these sessions have given fans some insight on the season to come.

Who will be the starting center in Week 1?

When 10-year veteran center Max Unger announced his retirement with a year remaining on his contract, the Saints were left a little short. In the desolate landscape of capable starting centers available in free agency, who would they turn to? New Orleans has the undrafted center, Cameron Tom, who has been with the Saints for three years, free agent signing Nick Easton, and 2019 second-round draft pick Erik McCoy from Texas A&M.

Between Tom and Easton, there is some previous NFL experience. Tom has played 11 games with the Saints, including one start, while Easton has played in 23 games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2016 and 2017. However, even with this experience, Easton has logged more snaps at guard than center throughout his career. But McCoy’s lack of NFL experience only says so much, during his college career he started in all 39 games he played proving his durability.

So far throughout OTAs Tom has taken first-team center snaps with Easton at guard while McCoy has been on the second unit. While it seems Tom is in line for the job; it would not be a surprise to see McCoy on the path to start the season. According to Saints offensive line coach Dan Roushar, “[McCoy] is a guy with a great work ethic – and he’s hungry to learn. Makes mistakes, pays attention to them, really works hard to correct them the next day, so you see improvement.”

This speaks to the durability and consistency a team wants in a center. The Saints need a cerebral player to replace the vacancy left by Unger’s retirement. If McCoy continues to show these strides through minicamp and into the preseason, there is no reason he will not be the starting center for the New Orleans Saints come week 1.

What is the depth behind the WR2?

During the Drew Brees era, the Saints utilize the big slot receiver to supplement the offense. Marques Colston turned that position into a long and steady career catching passes from the future Hall of Fame quarterback. There are three receivers eager to enter that position in New Orleans: Keith Kirkwood, Cameron Meredith, and rookie Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

Currently, Cameron Meredith, who the Saints signed during the 2018 offseason to man this position, is working out with trainers to fully rehab the knee injury that sent him to the injured reserve last season. Kirkwood showed splashes at the position last season, however, his time spent on the practice squad has garnered him more responsibilities on the field. Humphrey has a prime opportunity to show what he can do at the position.

Being on the field is the first step, already he can make up some ground between him and Meredith. After that comes the playbook, any fan who watches the Saints can attest, the offense is extremely dense. Humphrey spends about two hours a night studying head coach Sean Payton’s pièce de résistance. According to Humphrey from Rod Walker of the Advocate, “I’m starting to grasp it and digest it. It’s real new. So I’m just trying to get the scheme down, but I’m liking it. So I’m trying to stay afloat and keep working.”

Coming off of a spectacular season at the University of Texas where Lil’Jordan caught 86 passes for 1,176 yards and 9 touchdowns, he could challenge Meredith for the slot receiver role if he can pick up Payton’s system quickly. If Humphrey should win the said battle, it would also give the Saints some piece of mind when it comes to the durability at the position.

Who’s the new heart of the New Orleans Saints locker room?

When the New Orleans Saints signed Latavius Murray to a four-year deal, it was a sign. The franchise would be saying goodbye to an eight-year veteran who had left it all on the field for his team. Mark Ingram’s time in New Orleans was over.

While the Saints might be able to replace his production on the field, it is going to be challenging to do the same in the locker room. The former Heisman trophy winner was the heart and soul for the Saints. Many current players echoed that OTAs were different than years past without Ingram dancing to the music that blasted over the sound system during stretches.

I mean who could forget when Ingram and Alvin Kamara put ski masks on to address the “copycats” after they beat the Philadelphia Eagles. Without Ingram in the locker room the Saints need a new player to step up, he was the fourth-longest tenured player on the team behind Brees, punter Thomas Morestead and tied with defensive end Cameron Jordan.

When one player leaves another must fill his place, and I expect Kamara to step into the void Ingram’s move left. It might not be immediate, but I do believe Kamara has the right personality to be that guy.