The Saints’ Path to Success in 2026 Is Clear

In his place, Luke Fortner attempted to take over. To his credit, Fortner has been surprisingly solid, but the surrounding issues seem glaring.

At the trade deadline, the Saints traded away former first-round pick Trevor Penning. A player who never reached his potential saw an unfortunate end to his tenure in the Big Easy. In his place, interim starting LG Dillon Radunz offers slightly more stability. 

Among all the discrepancies in the Saints’ OL, the biggest liability remains RG Cesar Ruiz. Ruiz is ranked 53rd out of 79 guards by Pro Football Focus. It is of the utmost importance that he is either traded or cut by the time the 2026 draft rolls around to make room for a younger piece.

The good news? The Saints have hit on two cornerstone tackles in Taliese Fuaga and Kelvin Banks, Jr. 

Dealing With the Defense

On the defensive side of the ball, two pieces that are becoming increasingly expendable are LB Pete Werner and pass rusher Cameron Jordan.

Werner has 13 missed tackles, which is 68th among all linebackers in the NFL. Rookie LB Danny Stutsman has impressed so far in his limited playing time, and likely will get more playing time over Werner for the remainder of the season.

Jordan, while he continues to get sacks, has not been the player he once was for quite some time. His higher sack count (6.5) this season could make him a valuable trade target in the offseason, if the Saints elect to re-sign him. Letting him become a free agent might be the easier move, however. With the emergence of Carl Granderson and especially Chase Young, Jordan has become less of a necessity. 

Moving “vital” pieces of this team won’t be popular, but it is necessary to acquire draft capital to get younger and more affordable. That’s the best way to rebuild.

Drafting the Next Cornerstones

The 2025 draft class has been outstanding for the Saints. Kellen Moore has seemed to have hit on practically every pick, especially with Kelvin Banks and promising QB Tyler Shough.

Banks is already a star. And Shough has shown plenty of talent in his minimal starts, leaving New Orleans in an interesting spot come 2026 draft time. If the team believes in Shough, they can focus on drafting other positions. 

Assuming the Saints retain their current top-five pick, the best selection may be LB Arvell Reese out of Ohio State. A versatile LB/EDGE hybrid, Reese would fit perfectly into Brandon Staley’s scheme. However, his high draft stock may take him out of reach of even the Saints’ hands. 

If Reese is gone, the next best fit is Miami’s Reuben Bain, Jr. His burst and power would complement a tandem of Young and Granderson beautifully. 

On offense, New Orleans desperately needs a playmaker. Fortunately, the second round is rich with wide receiver talent. A player like Louisville’s Chris Bell, a 6-foot-2 YAC machine (although he unfortunately just tore his ACL), would be an ideal complement alongside Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele and would finally give New Orleans the open-field threat it deserves.

A defensive cornerstone in Round 1 and a dynamic offensive weapon in Round 2 would go a long way toward restoring balance to the Saints’ roster.

The Path Back to Relevance

The Saints’ 2025 season may be lost, but it certainly is not meaningless. This season has revealed who can carry the team forward — but also who can hold them back. Through tough roster decisions, a focus on youth, and a strong 2026 draft, New Orleans has a clear path to relevance again. 

The rebuild has already begun. It’s time for the Saints to embrace and commit to it.