Quarterback

Last off-season, the Saints were in arguably the worst position of any team. Years of aggressive cap maneuvering paired with years of poor drafting led to the Saints missing the playoffs in four straight seasons and, going into last off-season, they had a roster that was increasingly aging and a cap situation that was increasingly becoming inflexible. Now a year later, the Saints’ playoff drought still continues, but, after a good 2025 draft, the Saints have much more promising young talent than they used to and hope for the future.

The most important player in that draft class is quarterback Tyler Shough, selected in the second round. Shough didn’t take over as the starter until week 9, but in 9 starts he completed 67.6% of his passes for an average of 7.29 YPA, 10 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, while rushing for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns on 45 carries (4.13 YPC). Most importantly, Shough led the Saints to a 5-4 record in his starts, after the Saints started 1-7. He was an old rookie and is already heading into his age 27 season, so he doesn’t have the same upside as most quarterbacks who have an impressive rookie season, but he seems likely to at least continue his level of play from the second half of last season into this season. 

Shough will continue being backed up by Spencer Rattler, who actually wasn’t that bad in his 8 starts last season, completing 67.7% of his passes for an average of 6.17 YPA, 8 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions, mostly struggling to win games because of issues with his supporting cast. A 5th round pick in 2024, Rattler struggled mightily in 6 starts as a rookie (70.4 passer rating), but he entered the league very raw and was clearly improved in 2025. Actually younger than Shough, going into his age 26 season, Rattler probably isn’t a starting caliber quarterback, but he is at least a solid backup option.

Grade: B-

Offensive Line

The Saints also made a good pick in the first round of last year’s draft, using the 9th overall pick on Kelvin Banks, who made all 17 starts at left tackle as a rookie and proved to be an above average starter. Banks could be even better in his second season in the league and looks to have a bright future ahead of him. Having cheap young talented players at quarterback and left tackle, two of the most expensive positions in the league, has taken a lot of the pressure off the Saints’ tough cap situation and allowed them to spend in big ways this off-season. 

One of the players they paid was former Bills guard David Edwards, who joins the team on a 4-year, 61 million dollar deal and will start at left guard. Edwards was a little bit of an overpay, ranking 16th in the league among guards in average annual salary, but he has been at least an average starter across 32 starts over the past two seasons and he is still only going into his age 29 season, so he is likely to continue playing at a similar level for at least another couple seasons. He should be an obvious upgrade over Trevor Penning and Dillon Radunz, who both struggled as the starting left guard last season.

At center, the Saints are likely to get better health from Eric McCoy, who missed 10 games with injury last season. Durability has been a concern for McCoy throughout his career, missing 27 games over the past 5 seasons, including 20 games over the past two seasons, but he has mostly been an above average starter when he does play and, still only in his age 29 season, he has obvious bounce back potential if he can stay healthier in 2026. 

Opposite Banks at right tackle, the Saints have another former first round pick, Taliese Fuaga. Fuaga has been just an average starter in 30 starts in two seasons in the league, but he is only going into his age 24 season and he has a big upside, so he could easily take a step forward in his third season in the league in 2026 and have the best season of his career. Even if he doesn’t take a step forward, he should remain at least an average starter. 

The weak link on this offensive line is right guard Cesar Ruiz. Ruiz is also a former first round pick, back in 2020, but he has mostly struggled in 83 starts in six seasons in the league. A lack of depth is also a concern for the Saints because their top reserves are Dillon Radunz, a hybrid tackle/guard who has made 41 starts in 5 seasons in the league, but has mostly struggled, Asim Richards, a mediocre swing tackle with 5 starts in 3 seasons in the league, and 4th round rookie guard Jeremiah Wright. This offensive line should be better than it was last year though, even if they still have some concerns.

Grade: B-

Running Backs

The Saints also gave a big contract to free agent running back Travis Etienne, making him the 8th highest paid running back in the league in terms of average annual salary with a 4-year, 48 million dollar extension. Running back was a weakness for the Saints last season, as they ranked 31st in the NFL with a 3.69 YPC. Part of the problem was run blocking, as the Saints ranked 23rd in run block win rate, which should improve this season, but the running backs themselves were also part of the problem. 

Etienne is not an elite running back, but he is an experienced lead back who should be significantly better than what the Saints had last season. A first round pick in 2021, Etienne has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in a season three times and is a decent pass catcher as well, with 1.07 yards per route run in his career, but injuries have significantly affected his other two seasons, as he missed all of his rookie season in 2021 and was limited to 3.72 YPC and 150 carries by injuries in 2024. He was healthy last season though and finished with 1,107 yards and 7 touchdowns on 260 carries (4.26 YPC), with a 36/292/6 slash line as a receiver. As long as he is healthy in 2026, he should be similarly productive in a backfield where he doesn’t have meaningful competition for touches.

Alvin Kamara, the Saints’ long-time lead back, is still on the roster, but he looked like a shell of himself last season (3.60 YPC, 0.78 yards per route run) and there is a good chance he retires or is released before the season starts, ahead of what would be his age 31 season. Even if he remains on the roster, he would see a limited role and probably wouldn’t be a significant factor for this team. If Kamara isn’t on the roster, the #2 running back job will go to either Devin Neal, Kendre Miller, and Audric Estime. 

Neal, a 2025 6th round pick, struggled on 57 carries as a rookie, averaging 3.61 yards per carry, with just 2.39 yards per carry after contact and a 17.5% missed tackle rate. Miller is probably the most talented option, averaging 3.91 YPC, 3.33 yards per carry after contact, a 29.9% missed tackle rate, and 1.37 yards per route run in his career, since going in the 3rd round in 2023, but he has been limited to just 127 carries in 21 games in three seasons in the league due to injuries and he is currently rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered in the middle of last season. 

Estime, meanwhile, was a 5th round pick in 2024 and has averaged 4.16 YPC, 3.16 yards per carry after contact, a 18.9% missed tackle rate, over just 122 carries in two seasons in the league. Whoever wins the backup job will only be used to spell Etienne when he needs a rest and, if Etienne misses injuries, the Saints will probably use a committee rather than committing to one of their backup options. This backfield is better than it was last season, but this group is still a little underwhelming.

Grade: B-

Receiving Corps

Wide receiver was also a big need for the Saints this off-season, as their #2 wide receiver last season in terms of receiving yardage was Rashid Shaheed, who had a 44/499/2 slash line in 9 games before being traded. The Saints addressed this need in a big way by using the 8th overall pick on Jordyn Tyson, who figures to have an immediate impact. Suddenly, this looks like a pretty good receiving corps. Tyson will slot in as the #2 receiver behind Chris Olave, who has averaged a 89/1152/6 slash line per 17 games and 2.13 yards per route run in four seasons in the league since being selected in the first round by the Saints in 2022. 

Still very much in his prime in his age 26 season, Olave should have another similarly productive season in 2026 if healthy, though he could see a small downtick in production because Tyson figures to have a big target share too. The “if healthy” part is an important caveat because, even though Olave has only missed 13 games in four seasons in the league, he has a concerning history of concussions and could be forced to miss an extended period of time if he suffers another one in 2025. Tyson also has a concerning injury history, missing time throughout his collegiate career, but, on pure talent, he could have been a top-5 pick if not for the injury concerns, so the Saints could have a steal if he can stay healthy.

Devaughn Vele figures to be the #3 receiver. Acquired from the Broncos before the season last off-season, Vele started the season as the #4 receiver, but operated as the #2 receiver after Shaheed was traded and Brandin Cooks was released, totaling 19 catches for 239 yards and a touchdown in four games in that role before getting hurt and missing the rest of the season. Vele also had a 41/475/3 slash line as a 7th round rookie in 2024 with the Broncos and, overall, has averaged 1.38 yards per route run in two seasons in the league. 

Old as a rookie and already going into his age 29 season, Vele doesn’t have a high upside, but he is a solid third receiver. The Saints also used 4th and 6th round picks on Bryce Lance and Barion Brown respectively and Lance figures to have the inside track on the #4 receiver job in a receiving corps that lacks another good veteran option, with Mason Tipton (career 0.42 yards per route run average) being the biggest veteran competition for the #4 job.

With the Saints’ issues at wide receiver last season, tight end Juwan Johnson took on a bigger role in the offense, setting career highs by a wide margin in targets (102), catches (77), yards (889), and yards per route run (1.69) in his 6th season in the league, after previously maxing out at just 66 targets, 50 catches, 548 yards, and 1.39 yards per route run in a season. Johnson should see his usage drop back closer to his previous level with more wide receiver talent added and with Johnson now heading into his age 30 season, but he figures to still be a useful part of this offense.

Foster Moreau (253 snaps), Taysom Hill (211 snaps), and Jack Stoll (210 snaps) all saw snaps as backups last season and are no longer with the team, leaving the #2 tight end job to either veteran free agent acquisition Noah Fant, a decent receiver with a 1.44 yards per route run average in his career, or third round rookie Oscar Delp, a more well-rounded tight end who might be too raw to contribute in a significant way in year one. Thanks in large part to draft day additions, the Saints receiving corps is in a lot better shape now than it was at the end of last season.

Grade: B

Edge Defenders

The Saints’ defense was the strength of their team last season, ranking 9th in schedule adjusted efficiency, as opposed to 27th on offense. The Saints’ offense should be better this season in the first full season of Tyler Shough, with additions made at running back, guard, and wide receiver, but their defense might not be as good due to several off-season losses. One of those losses was edge defender Cameron Jordan, who was not retained for his age 37 season in 2026, but still had 10.5 sacks, 5 hits, and a 11.5% pressure rate last season, despite his advanced age.

To replace him, the Saints traded for Tyree Wilson and Anfernee Jennings, who figure to be downgrades. Wilson at least has some upside, as he was the 7th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and is still only going into his age 26 season, but he has not lived up to his draft slot. He has been a little better over the past two seasons after a dismal rookie year, but he still only has 8.5 sacks, 10 hits, and a 11.0% pressure rate in 33 games over the past two seasons, so it isn’t a surprise that the Raiders were willing to give him up for a late round pick. Jennings, meanwhile, is a solid run defender who has played an average of 533 snaps per season over the past 4 seasons, but he is a below average pass rusher with a pressure rate of just 8.7% of his career.

The Saints’ top-2 edge defenders are holdovers Chase Young and Carl Granderson. Young is a high level pass rusher, with 32 sacks, 39 hits, and a 12.2% pressure rate in 72 career games, including a career high 10 sacks, 4 hits, and a career high 17.2% pressure rate last season, and he is an effective run defender as well. The 2020 2nd overall pick, Chase is also still very much in his prime, only going into his age 27 season. 

Injuries are the one concern with Chase, as he has missed 29 games in six seasons in the league, while only once playing all 17 games. He missed 5 games last season and the Saints’ defense was noticeably worse without him, allowing 5.26 yards per play and a 33.13% first down rate without him, as opposed to 4.66 yards per play and a 27.14% first down rate with him. If he can play more games this season, it will be a boost to this defense, but his injury history suggests that is not a guarantee.

Granderson, meanwhile, is a better run defender than pass rusher, but is not a bad pass rusher either, with 28.5 sacks, 35 hits, and a 11.0% pressure rate in 82 games over the past five seasons. He is going into his age 30 season and could start to decline soon, but he could easily remain an average starting edge defender for another season. This is a decent but unspectacular edge defender group that will probably miss Cameron Jordan, whose replacements figure to be downgrades.

Grade: B

Interior Defenders

At the interior defender position, the Saints bring back their top-3 in terms of snaps played last season, Nathan Shepherd (695 snaps), Bryan Bresee (667 snaps), and Davon Godchaux (455 snaps), and they also added Cristen Miller in the second round of this year’s draft and get back 2025 3rd round pick Vernon Broughton following a rookie season that ended after 24 snaps in one game because of injury. Bresee, a first round pick in 2023, is the best of the bunch, although largely by default. He struggles against the run, but makes up for it somewhat as a pass rusher, with 14.5 sacks, 17 hits, and a 8.0% pressure rate in 49 career games. Only in his age 25 season, he still has time to get better as a run defender, though that is not a guarantee.

Shepherd, on the other hand, is going into his age 33 season and could easily decline this season. He wasn’t a high level player in his prime either, providing inconsistent run defense and a career 7.1% pressure rate as a pass rusher. With Miller being added in the draft, Broughton returning after a lost rookie year, and Bresee continuing to develop, it seems highly unlikely that Shepherd will lead this position group in snaps again this season. Godchaux, primarily a run defender with a career 4.2% pressure rate, is also going into his age 32 season and could see an even further reduced role in 2026. This is an underwhelming group overall unless young players exceed expectations.

Grade: C+

Linebackers

By far the biggest loss on this Saints defense this off-season is linebacker Demario Davis, who the Saints opted not to retain ahead of what would have been his age 37 season. Davis’ age was a concern, but he hadn’t shown any signs of decline, continuing to play at an All-Pro level in recent years. In his absence, the Saints signed Kaden Elliss, a solid linebacker in his own right, but an obvious downgrade from Davis. Elliss isn’t young either, going into his age 31 season, so he could also decline this season.

Pete Werner, a middling #2 linebacker, remains in that role and, in his age 27 season, should continue playing at a similar level, while playing a snap count similar to the 50.5 snaps per game he has averaged in 58 games over the past 4 seasons. Danny Stutsman, a 2025 4th round pick who showed promise across 204 snaps as a rookie, will also remain in his role as the #3 linebacker. He would be a projection to a larger role, but he is a good option as far as #3 linebackers go and he could easily prove to be capable of handling a larger role if either Elliss or Werner miss extended time with injury. This isn’t a bad linebacking corps, but the loss of Davis will be a big blow to this defense.

Grade: B+

Secondary

The Saints also lost cornerback Alontae Taylor this off-season, but that figures to be the least impactful loss. The Saints replaced him by signing free agent Martin Emerson, who isn’t as reliable as Taylor, but comes with a much higher upside. Emerson had a solid rookie year in 2022 and then an even better second season in the league in 2023, when he allowed 47.1% completion and no touchdowns on 70 targets. However, he regressed significantly in 2024, allowing 62.7% completion and 6 touchdowns with no interceptions and then he tore his achilles and missed the entire 2025 season. The injury and his history of inconsistency obviously make him a risky signing, but he will be more than a full year removed from the injury by the start of the season and, given the top-end ability he has shown and that he is only going into his age 26 season, he could prove to be worth the risk.

The Saints also have a pair of recent draft picks, Kool-Aid McKinstry, a 2024 2nd round pick, and Quincy Riley, a 2025 4th round pick, who also will have big roles. McKinstry built off of a solid rookie season in which he played 680 snaps with an above average second season as a 17-game starter in 2025 and, still only in his age 24 season, his best football could easily still be ahead of him. Riley, meanwhile, had a decent rookie season across 592 snaps last season, as part of the Saints’ impressive 2025 draft class, and will look to build on that in year two in 2026. 

The Saints used another draft pick in this year’s draft on a cornerback, taking Lorenzo Styles in the 4th round to give them additional depth. He will compete with veteran Isaac Yiadom for the #4 cornerback job. Yiadom has shown flashes in limited action in his career, but has never exceeded 634 snaps in a season and is now going into his age 30 season. He’s not a bad depth option, but either he or the rookie Styles could easily struggle if forced into an extended starting role by injuries ahead of them on the depth chart. This is a high upside cornerback group, even if it is relatively young and inexperienced. 

The Saints are also deep at safety and could use three safeties on the field at the same time regularly. Another member of the Saints’ 2025 draft class, 3rd round pick Jonas Sanker was solid across 976 snaps (16 starts in 17 games) as a rookie. Justin Reid is a consistently average to above average starter (117 career starts) who is still in his prime in his age 29 season. Those two are likely their best starting options at the position. However, the Saints also brought back Julian Blackmon, who missed all but one game last season with injury and has missed 34 games in six seasons in the league, but has otherwise been decent when healthy, and they have is Jordan Howden, a 2023 5th round pick who has only averaged 459 snaps per season in his career, but has shown flashes of potential in his limited roles. This is a solid secondary across the board.

Grade: B+

Kicker

Kicking was an issue for the Saints last season. Veteran Blake Grupe began the season as the starter, but hit just 69.2% of his field goals, leading to his release. Charlie Smyth, a 2024 undrafted free agent making his debut, took over from there, but cost the Saints 2.58 points compared to an average kicker in six games. Smyth is currently listed as the starter, but could face competition from undrafted rookie Mason Shipley, who hit 86.4% of his field goals in college, but just 5 of 9 from 50 yards or more. Whoever wins the kicker job is likely to be a below average option this season.

Grade: C

Conclusion

The Saints’ roster still is underwhelming overall and, while their offense should be better this season than a year ago, perhaps significantly so, it looks likely that their defense will be worse. However, they face one of the weakest schedules in the league, facing a last place schedule and playing in the worst division in the NFL, so it wouldn’t be hard for them to win enough games to at least be in the mix for the division, given the other options in the NFC South

Prediction: 8-9, 1st in NFC South