New Orleans Saints Players Under the Most Pressure in 2025

OL Trevor Penning is the easiest choice for this list. After not seeing much playing time as a rookie to being benched in his second season, Penning has had a roller coaster of a career in New Orleans. 

In 2024, it looked as if the third-year OL was going to continue to struggle and eventually land back on the bench. But Penning had a bounce-back second half of the season and would finish the year starting all 17 games. 

Now heading into 2025, the former first-round pick is facing his third position change and playing in the interior of the offensive line for the first time in his career. With a brand new coaching staff with no connections to the fourth-year offensive lineman, Penning will have to prove he belongs on the roster after the Saints declined to pick up his fifth-year option. 

Alontae Taylor

Cornerback Alontae Taylor had an exciting rookie season while filling in for an injured Marshon Lattimore. While there were times teams would pick on the young cornerback, Taylor had multiple standout games, including holding Las Vegas Raiders' First-Team All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to one reception for three yards.

Despite showing plenty of potential during his first season in the NFL, the Saints opted to continue to start Paulson Adebo on the outside and test Taylor in the slot. Taylor was inconsistent throughout the entirety of the 2023 season and was often picked on when it mattered the most. 

Heading into 2024, Taylor retained his role as the team's slot cornerback and showed improvements in certain areas. However, once injury struck the secondary, the former second-round pick was moved back to the outside, where he would begin to struggle again. 

Taylor has faced plenty of nonideal circumstances, and when it seemed he had finally found his footing, a new obstacle would appear. The fourth-year cornerback is entering the final season of his rookie contract and will be playing in a brand-new system. If he can't find consistency, New Orleans could move on from their 2022 second-round pick. 

Kendre Miller

Third-year running back Kendre Miller has shown immense talent, but has struggled immensely to stay healthy. As a rookie, Miller suffered multiple injuries, including a knee injury, a hamstring strain, and an ankle sprain. The former TCU running back would be limited to just 8 games as a rookie, rushing for 156 yards on 3.8 yards a carry.

Miller would disappointingly suffer a similar fate in 2024 after missing the team's first six games due to a hamstring injury suffered in training camp. Once he returned, Miller quickly showed why he was a third-round pick, displaying his explosiveness and ability to make plays. But after only two games, the promising running back would head back to the injured reserve. 

Going into 2025, the Saints have made a significant push towards adding to their running game. With the re-signing of Clyde Edwards-Helaire and the addition of Cam Akers to their backfield, there's a lot of competition to be had in the running back room. 

It's no question that Miller is the most talented back in the unit behind only Alvin Kamara, but the lack of availability and strong competition make the 2025 season a big one for the third-year back.