Juwan Johnson is heading into 2026 with a much different kind of spotlight on him.
He was never the obvious centerpiece in the New Orleans Saints offense, but a big 2025 changed that conversation fast. In his sixth NFL season, Johnson posted career highs across the board with 77 receptions, 102 targets and 889 receiving yards. That kind of production doesn’t stay quiet for long, especially in New Orleans, where expectations tend to rise right along with the stat line.
When asked how he plans to follow that up, Johnson didn’t dance around it. His answer was simple: consistency.
"It's really the biggest thing. Just getting out of your own way, and that's really between your ears, clearing your mind, taking deep breaths, and not worrying about external things.
Just worry about what you can and be present. That's how I always want to do things this year, just kinda live in the moment.
Regardless of what the pass play or future is, just be conscious and intentional about being in the present."
That mindset matters because, from a structure standpoint, Johnson is walking into 2026 with very little change around him. He has the same head coach, the same offensive coordinator, and the same quarterback.
The setup is familiar. The biggest adjustment has come in the form of new faces around the offense.
The Saints used April to add three wide receivers and a tight end: Jordyn Tyson, Bryce Lance, Barion Brown and Oscar Delp. Tyson is on injured reserve, while Lance and Brown are expected to take on larger roles. Delp sits as the TE3, which should keep Johnson’s job as the top tight end intact.
That matters, because tight end usage doesn’t really eat into wide receiver snaps the way receiver reps can get split up among themselves. Johnson’s path to volume still looks clear enough, even with the new names in the room.
If he puts together another season like the one he just had, the label around him changes. He stops being the “breakout” guy and starts looking like a true TE1. And if he can tack on roughly another 800 receiving yards, the questions about whether last year was a one-off should start fading fast.
The Saints would benefit too. This wouldn’t just be about Johnson stacking numbers; it would mean the offense itself is taking a step forward.
New Orleans gets its first chance to find out when it opens against Detroit. That’s where Johnson can begin building on last year, and where the Saints should get a better read on his role in his second season under Kellen Moore.
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Saints No. 6 Suddenly Carries Far More Meaning This Season
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Shough, drafted in 2025, is the first quarterback in franchise history to wear No. 6, which gives the number a new place in the Saints identity if he becomes what the organization believes he can be. For a team that has seen the number bounce from special teams to the secondary and linebacker spots, this season is the first real chance for No. 6 to mean something bigger than a roster detail, and the opener will be the first test of how that new significance looks on the field. [Read more 🡒]