The Saints are entering the bye week with only two wins, and that alone makes it a natural time to start making changes. A head coaching move feels unlikely for now, even after the loss in Paris, so the more realistic shakeup may come elsewhere in the building as the Saints weigh what to do next with Kellen Moore.
One move that stands out immediately is cutting kicker Daniel Carlson. The Saints were too slow to move on from Blake Grupe last season, and that delay cost them games.
It’s the kind of mistake the team should already know better than to repeat. Carlson has not been the answer many expected, and his inconsistency has made it hard for fans to trust him when he lines up for a field goal.
This wouldn’t be a franchise-altering decision, but it could help.
Another change worth considering is at offensive line coach. Brendan Nugent’s unit has been one of the most disappointing groups on the roster, especially given the investment New Orleans has made there.
The players who should be carrying that group have underperformed, and the comparison being drawn is to the 2024 Saints defensive line under Todd Grantham. That group struggled badly with a younger Cam Jordan, Chase Young, and Carl Granderson, but once Grantham was removed, the line played much better.
The belief here is that something similar could happen if the Saints part ways with Nugent.
The Saints should also start looking ahead to the trade deadline with a seller’s mindset. There are veterans on the roster who could bring back at least an early Day 3 pick, and New Orleans should be open for business. Among the names that make sense are Justin Reid, Cesar Ruiz, and Pete Werner.
Reid is the first obvious candidate. The safety room has been a problem this season, even though that was supposed to be the most stable part of the defensive backfield. Jordan Howden could step into that role, and Reid might be able to fetch a useful return.
Ruiz fits a similar idea. If the Saints want to add draft capital, he’s a player who could help make that happen, while Jeremiah Wright remains in place.
Werner is the toughest call of the three. There’s no guarantee New Orleans would get much back for him, but it still may be time to make the deal.
In Other News...
Saints Paris Trip Could Mean More For New Orleans Than Fans Realize
The Saints trip to Paris ended up carrying more weight than a typical international team visit, at least for the state and city officials who tagged along. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and other leaders during the stay, while the itinerary also featured business networking events and talk centered on building stronger French tourism links with New Orleans.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno used the trip to meet with Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grgoire, a sign that the relationship could keep expanding well beyond football. For the Saints, the optics of a European stage matter, but the broader payoff may be what comes next for the citys profile abroad and the economic ties Louisiana hopes to deepen with France. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Bye Week Puts Kellen Moore's Biggest Problems Under The Microscope
A 2-5 start has left New Orleans heading into the bye week with more questions than answers, and Kellen Moore has plenty on his plate. The offense has been too uneven, the defense has had its own issues, and the coaching staff now gets a chance to step back and take a hard look at what has and has not worked through the first half of the season.
Moore said the break will be used to evaluate everything from offensive performance and coaching decisions to roster opportunities and special teams. The kicking game is part of that review, too, which only adds to the urgency of a stretch in which the Saints are trying to settle on a clearer identity and squeeze more consistency out of the rest of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Kellen Moore Keeps Facing The Same Ugly Saints Problem
The slow starts on offense have become a stubborn theme for the Saints under Kellen Moore, and the recent game against Pittsburgh only reinforced it. Moore had even joked before kickoff that the time zone change might help spark a quicker beginning, but once again the offense never really found that early rhythm.
For New Orleans, the concern is less about one flat opening than a pattern that keeps showing up week after week. The Saints have managed just six first-quarter points through seven games, which means the issue is now a real part of the evaluation of this offense rather than a one-game annoyance. Until that changes, every slow opening keeps putting more pressure on the rest of the afternoon. [Read more 🡒]