New Orleans Saints 2026 Offseason Outlook

There was a point midway through the 2025 NFL season when the New Orleans Saints were in freefall. They were 1-8, and seemed destined to have the first overall pick in the 2026 draft. Would Arch Manning be turning pro? Would the Saints have a chance to draft Archie Manning’s grandson?

Turned out to be a moot point, on every level. Arch Manning would not be going pro. And the Saints would not be in position to draft him even if he did. After that 1-8 start, things started to fall into place for New Orleans. Rookie head coach Kellen Moore handed the starting quarterback job to rookie Tyler Shough, and the entire team responded.

New Orleans went 5-3 in the final eight games of the season, including two wins over the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers and one over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints actually finished the season two games out of first place. That says more about the division than it does about the team, but the Saints at least go into 2026 with a franchise quarterback in place. Rather than rebuilding, it’s now a matter of building on the momentum.

2025 recap

Tyler Shough was an intriguing draft prospect. Some teams shied away from the Louisville product because he would turn 26 just a couple of weeks into his rookie season. When the Saints got him in the second round, it was noo guarantee he’d be taking over the job. Indeed, Spencer Rattler started the first eight games before Moore finally put his rookie into the lineup. Shough didn’t exactly bust down the doors, but he at least delivered. Shough completed 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Saints only scored 20 or more points in four of Shough’s nine starts, but it’s also important to note that he had very little to work with. While Chris Olave did catch 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns, that was about it for New Orleans’ roster of skill-position players. The Saints traded big-play receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks at the trade deadline. Running back Alvin Kamara, who turned 30 before last season began, missed six games due to injury and was starting to show his age.

It was more the defense that kept the Saints competitive. They held four of their final eight opponents to under 20 points, finishing the season ranked ninth in total defense. And while it’s obvious that the Saints need to add offensive weapons to help Shough, they also need to figure out what the defense will look like. The team’s two defensive stars — linebacker Demario Davis, who led the team in tackles, and defensive end Cam Jordan, who led the team in sacks — are both free agents. What’s more, they will both be 37 when next season begins.

Key free agents

TE Taysom Hill
LB Demario Davis
DE Cam Jordan
CB Alontae Taylor
G Dillon Radunz

Saints salary cap space

($6,037,060)

2026 draft needs

With the No. 8 pick in the first round, the Saints are in a good spot to draft a productive wide receiver to team with Olave — in his post-combine first-round mock, Luke Easterling has New Orleans taking another Ohio State pass-catcher, Carnell Tate. Regardless of whether Jordan and Davis are back, adding youth and depth to defensive line and linebacker is important. The offensive line can use some help at guard.

2026 opponents

Home:Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Cleveland, Green Bay, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Pittsburgh

Away:Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, N.Y. Giants