The New Orleans Saints have already seen what happens when they lean into their young talent, and they should not slow that momentum down now.
Last season’s rookie class gave the fan base plenty to feel better about, and it’s a big reason the Saints were voted as having the best draft class in 2025. That group made a real impact, and by 2026 nearly all of them are in starting spots. But that doesn’t mean the youth movement should stop there.
There are still spots on the roster where the competition is wide open, and those battles should be decided by performance, not age or experience. For second-year players like Quincy Riley, Vernon Broughton, and Danny Stutsman, that means they’re pushing veterans for jobs. Riley is competing with Martin Emerson, Broughton is going against Nathan Shepherd, and Stutsman is up against Pete Werner.
The Saints were slow to play their rookies last season until they had little choice, but once those young players got on the field, the team was better for it. Riley has been outperforming Emerson in camp, which should put him in line to be CB2.
Broughton also has a real opening because of Bryan Bresee’s injury, and that gives him a chance to start next season right away. Shepherd will make it a fight, but if Broughton is the better player, the Saints should ride with him.
Stutsman faces a tougher climb, but if he proves he can be an impact linebacker who looks like a starter, the Saints ought to make that switch as soon as possible.
The same idea applies to this year’s rookie class, even if some of those paths are blocked for now. Jordyn Tyson is set to be the Saints’ No. 2 option, so he’s expected to start immediately.
Christen Miller appears to fit the nose tackle role, but Davon Godchaux is lined up there. Oscar Delp sits behind Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant.
Bryce Lance and Barion Brown are further down the wide receiver depth chart, and guard Jeremiah Wright is behind Cesar Ruiz.
Even so, the Saints shouldn’t treat those depth charts like they’re written in stone. If Miller is playing better than Godchaux, that change should happen.
If Delp keeps performing at a high, steady level, then giving him starting-caliber snaps during the season would make sense. The climb is steeper for the rest of the rookies, but Wright still has a path if he keeps trending upward in practice and Ruiz struggles early.
The Saints want to win now, and that urgency can easily push teams toward veterans even when younger players are clearly outperforming them. That’s the trap New Orleans has to avoid. Last season showed exactly why.
In Other News...
Jeremiah Wright Is Giving Saints Fans A Real Reason To Watch Camp
The first padded practice of camp gave Saints observers a clearer look at Jeremiah Wright, and the rookie lineman wasted little time making himself part of the conversation. A fourth-round pick, Wright worked all of the second-team snaps and looked the part of a young blocker trying to climb into the mix, with his physical style standing out early.
For now, Wright sits behind Cesar Ruiz and Dillon Radunz on the depth chart, which keeps the path to a starting job in front of him rather than right in front of him. Still, the early returns have added some real intrigue to his summer, because the Saints are clearly treating this as a development year with the possibility that he could be in line for a bigger role down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Still Have One Veteran Receiver Decision Hanging Over Camp
The Saints entered camp with one of the leagues younger wide receiver rooms, and that has naturally kept the door open to a veteran addition if the right one becomes available. Around the league, the Chargers are not expected to bring in more receivers, which has kept the focus on a possible fit in New Orleans, where depth and experience could still appeal to a team trying to sort out its passing game.
Kellen Moore has already acknowledged the Saints have plenty of bodies at the position, but he has not closed off the idea of another move if it helps the roster. The question now is less about whether New Orleans needs to keep looking and more about whether the right veteran actually makes enough sense to justify adding to a crowded room. [Read more 🡒]