New Orleans Saints announce 55-man roster, tryouts for rookie minicamp

All ten rookie free agents the Saints have announced deals with have signed and are on the minicamp roster -- which excludes defensive lineman Zxavian Harris. Multiple reports have said Harris will sign with the Saints but that hasn't happened yet, and he isn't expected to participate at practices this weekend after being left off the roster. It could be as simple as him still recovering from foot surgery in March, but it's odd that the team hasn't announced a contract with him yet.

Returning players under contract (6)

• S Elliott Davison, UTSA
• CB Dalys Beanum, South Dakota State
• DL Coziah Izzard, Penn State
• OT Easton Kilty, Kansas State
• WR Damien Alford, Utah

Each of these guys spent time on the practice squad (or in Alford's case, the CFL) last year but didn't appear in enough games to accrue a full season, at least as far as the NFL's collective bargaining agreement is concerned. That means they're eligible to participate in rookie minicamp while remaining under contract. It's a good opportunity for them to prove they belong.

Tryout players (31)

• QB Braylon Braxton, Southern Mississippi
• QB Easton Stick, North Dakota State (veteran)
• QB Kyle Trask, Florida
• RB Rahsul Faison, South Carolina
• RB Tawee Walker, Cincinnati
• TE McCallan Castles, Tennessee
• WR Brock Rechsteiner, Jacksonville State
• WR Javon Gipson, Abilene Christian
• WR Kaleb Blaha, Wisconsin-River Falls
• WR Mekhi Mews, Houston
• OL Joshua Braun, Kentucky
• OL Mason Randolph, Boise State
• OL Matthew Bedford, Oregon
• OL Bob Schick, Oklahoma Stat
• OL Davis Heinzen, Wisconsin
• K Younghoe Koo, Georgia Southern (veteran)
• LS Tristan O'Brien, East Carolina
• P Caden Noonkester, NC State
• EDGE Malakai Williams, Boise State
• EDGE Charles Esters III, Texas Tech
• DL Kam Hamilton, Tulane
• DL Ty Malone, Ohio State
• LB Brayden Johnson, Wyoming
• LB Johnny Chaney, FIU
• LB Tah Banda, UT Martin
• LB Sam Brumfield, Memphis
• DB JT Woods, Baylor (veteran)
• DB Eric Butler, San Diego State
• DB A'Marion McCoy, Boise State
• DB Jakari Foster, Louisiana Tech
• DB Solomon Barnes, UTEP

We knew many of these players would be participating, but there are a couple of new additions like Cincinnati running back Tawee Walker (one of three running backs on the minicamp roster), Tennessee tight end McCallan Castles, Texas Tech edge rusher Charles Esters III, and defensive backs A'Marion McCoy (Boise State), Jakari Foster (Louisiana Tech), and Solomon Barnes (UTEP). Curiously, record-setting Division-III quarterback Kaleb Blaha (Wisconsin-River Falls) is listed as a wide receiver.

Additionally, there are three veteran free agent tryouts between quarterback Easton Stick, kicker Younghoe Koo, and defensive back JT Woods. Stick and Woods played for Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley (as well as Kellen Moore and several other assistants) on the Los Angeles Chargers, so there's some connection there.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: New Orleans Saints announce 55-man roster, tryouts for rookie minicamp