My annual ranking of the New Orleans Saints’ roster, based on each player’s current value heading into the 2017 season. Part one of a five-part series:

No. 20: (tie) LB A.J. Klein, LB Craig Robertson, LB Manti Te'o

Last year’s rank: N/A

Yes, I’m cheating to get 22 players in my top 20. But I also thought this three-way tie was fitting, since these three linebackers will start training camp right around the same level in an open competition for starting jobs and the all-important “quarterback of the defense” role.

Robertson, 29, had the best year of his career last season in New Orleans after he spent his first four years with the Cleveland Browns. He took over as the starting middle linebacker in September and wound up leading the Saints with 115 tackles, adding a sack and an interception. Still, the Saints decided to go out in free agency to try to upgrade the middle linebacker position with both Klein and Te’o.

Klein, 25, seems like the front-runner for the gig, since the Saints aggressively signed him to a three-year, $15 million contract on the first day of free agency. He spent his first four seasons stuck behind star linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis with the Carolina Panthers. But he has impressed in 23 career starts and has 146 career tackles, four sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception.

Te’o, on the flip side, has been a full-time starter in his first four years with the Los Angeles Chargers, starting 34 of the 38 games he has played. The 26-year-old has 222 career tackles with 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble. His biggest problem, however, has been injuries -- including a torn Achilles suffered in Week 3 last year. Te’o was limited in OTAs and minicamp but should be at full speed in the preseason.

Whichever guys don’t win the starting middle linebacker job could wind up starting on the weak side or strong side.

Worth noting: I almost added newly signed DE/OLB Alex Okafor into this group as a 23rd member of the top 20. But I figured it would be a stretch to include him with the other guys. I do, however, love Okafor’s potential to have a breakout year and become a top-15 guy on this list next year.

No. 19: TE Coby Fleener

Last year’s rank: No. 13

Fleener’s first year in New Orleans was a disappointment, after he signed a five-year, $36 million contract in free agency. He had only 50 catches for 631 yards and three touchdowns (plus a TD run). He also three to six dropped passes on the season, depending on how harsh a grader you are.

The good news is that things should improve for the 28-year-old. He has a lot more familiarity with the offense in Year 2, and he could become a bigger part of the attack with top receiver Brandin Cooks having been traded away. The 6-foot-6, 251-pounder has never been a red zone monster, but he should be able to gain big yards down the middle of the field in this TE-friendly passing offense.

No. 18: S Vonn Bell

Last year’s rank: N/A

Bell showed both highs and lows after being thrown in the fire last year as a second-round draft pick out of Ohio State, starting 14 games with 87 tackles, two forced fumbles, four pass defenses and a sack. And Pro Football Focus shared an impressive hidden statistic last week: According to PFF, Bell is one of only two safeties in the NFL who played at least 200 run snaps last year and missed zero tackles vs. the run. (The other was Green Bay Packers Pro Bowler Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.)

Bell, just 22, should only continue to grow in Year 2 -- though he’ll have to earn all of his playing time in a deep safety group that also includes veterans Kenny Vaccaro and Rafael Bush and second-round pick Marcus Williams.

No. 17: LB Dannell Ellerbe

Last year’s rank: tied for 20th

The ninth-year veteran is so hard to rank on this list every year because injuries have derailed the second half of his career. He has played in just 15 games over the past two seasons in New Orleans since arriving in a trade with the Miami Dolphins.

But when healthy, the 6-1, 245-pounder is one of the most dynamic playmakers on the defense. He had four sacks in nine games last year and has 83 tackles over those 15 games. If Ellerbe can stay healthy this summer, he should remain the starting weakside linebacker, but he’s part of the reason why the Saints have stockpiled depth.