As the Saints get ready to face the Steelers in Paris tomorrow morning, there’s another set of names worth keeping an eye on Saturday: a trio of college players who could fit into New Orleans’ plans down the line, even if the idea of any of them landing with the Saints in 2027 remains a long shot.
Start with Cam Coleman, the Texas wide receiver who will be on the field tonight at 6:30 PM on ABC against Ole Miss. Coleman is the kind of player who makes you pause, even if the odds of this becoming a Saints story are slim.
He and Arch Manning are still trying to unlock a more explosive Texas offense, and Coleman brings the kind of package that stands out fast - size, speed, athleticism, and the ability to win contested catches. That mix has made him one of the best receivers in the class.
The same game also features Suntarine Perkins, and he may be the one creating the headaches for Texas. Perkins lines up as an EDGE/OLB, and if Manning and the Longhorn offense struggle, there’s a good chance Perkins had something to do with it.
He can get after the passer, but he also has the versatility to play off-ball linebacker. That kind of flexibility would matter for a Saints defense that could use a dependable partner for Chase Young, along with someone who can work off the ball and make plays in space.
Then there’s Justin Scott, the centerpiece of Miami’s front when the top-ranked team meets Pitt at 11 AM on ESPN. Scott is a powerful interior defensive tackle with the ability to hold up against the run and affect the quarterback from the middle of the line.
That’s exactly the sort of presence the Saints have been missing this season. The lack of a steady force in the center of the defensive front has hurt both the run defense and the pass rush, giving opposing quarterbacks more time to climb the pocket and find receivers downfield.
The Saints have plenty of issues to sort through, which is why adding talent almost anywhere this offseason would be a welcome development.
In Other News...
Saints Paris Trip Could Mean More For New Orleans Than Fans Realize
State and local officials who went along with the Saints to Paris came home talking as much about economic development as football. The trip gave Louisiana leaders a chance to sit down with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and other executives, while also opening doors through business networking events aimed at deepening the states connection with France. Gov. Jeff Landry used the visit to advance those conversations, and the broader message was clear: the Saints overseas footprint can carry value well beyond the field.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno also used the trip to strengthen a city-to-city relationship, meeting with Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grgoire and discussing ways to bring more French tourism to New Orleans. The exchange fits into a larger push to make the Saints a gateway for international attention, especially as officials look for practical ways to turn a rare team trip into longer-term ties. For now, the most interesting part may be what those conversations lead to back home. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Bye Week Feels Critical After Kellen Moores Latest Offensive Low
The bye week arrives with the Saints needing a reset, and the running game is right at the center of it. In the loss to Pittsburgh, New Orleans struggled to generate any traction on the ground while also getting gashed by the Steelers rushing attack, a combination that left the offense fighting uphill all afternoon. Injuries to key players such as Travis Etienne have only made it harder for the Saints to build any kind of rhythm, and the lack of stability has shown up in too many of their recent offensive drives.
Kellen Moore acknowledged after the game that the run game has been a problem, and the timing of the break could not be much better for a staff trying to piece things together. The Saints do not have the luxury of treating this as a minor issue, because the offense has become too inconsistent when it comes to staying ahead of the chains and keeping balance. The next few days will be about repairing that foundation, and for a team trying to stay afloat, what happens in the bye could shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Bye Week Puts Kellen Moore Under Real Pressure
The Saints bye week arrives with more than rest and repair on the agenda, because the conversation around Kellen Moore has shifted from frustration to real uncertainty. New Orleans has been stuck in a stretch of poor performance, and the lack of progress has started to put the head coachs standing under a brighter spotlight than anyone around the team would prefer at this point in the season.
Ownerships public frustration has only added to the noise, turning the off week into a potential pivot point for the franchise. If the Saints decide a change is coming, there is already a natural line of succession being discussed internally, but for now there has been no official move or announcement. The silence only makes the next few days feel even more consequential. [Read more 🡒]