Eighty-five days. That is the exact amount of time standing between the New Orleans Saints and their September 13 season opener in Detroit. Training camp is still six weeks out, but the front office is still churning the bottom of the roster. Enter Jalen Moreno-Cropper. The 25-year-old wideout just snagged a contract after a successful tryout, and he is currently wearing the number 85. He is a long shot. Let’s look at the resume.
At Fresno State, Moreno-Cropper was actually productive. He caught passes from current Saints backup Jake Haener, leading the Bulldogs in receptions and yards for three seasons. In 2021, he put up 899 yards and 11 scores. The next year, he caught 85 balls for 1,086 yards. Good numbers. Not good enough for the draft, though. He went undrafted in 2023, eventually signing with the Dallas Cowboys, where he spent most of his time rotting on the practice squad. He got into two games over two years. Zero stats.
Then came the spring league pivot. Moreno-Cropper suited up for the Houston Gamblers in the UFL, where he showed some life. He caught 22 passes for 291 yards. More importantly, he flashed as a returner, racking up 213 kick return yards, including a 93-yard touchdown sprint. He also played with quarterback Hunter Dekkers in Houston, another guy the Saints recently dragged onto their roster.
Making this team will be a dogfight. The Saints’ wide receiver room is crowded, and Moreno-Cropper is starting from the very bottom. His only real path to a roster spot is special teams. He will have to out-hustle rookie sixth-round pick Barion Brown and free-agent addition Ty Chandler. It is a steep hill to climb. But in June, everyone has a chance.
