LSU’s 51-10 rout of Clemson gave the New Orleans Saints plenty to think about, and not just because the Tigers looked dominant from start to finish. With Kellen Moore pushing a stronger Louisiana connection in New Orleans, the idea of the Saints leaning harder into LSU talent feels a lot more real than it used to.
That shift matters. For years, the Saints and LSU didn’t seem to line up the way they should have, even when a former Tiger looked like a natural fit in New Orleans.
Under Moore, though, there’s been a clear effort to bring in players from Louisiana or players who went to school in Louisiana. That approach has already shown up in free agency, where coming home has real pull alongside the money.
The Saints brought in Justin Reid and Travis Etienne, and that same local tie has also carried into the draft with the selection of Barion Brown.
If that trend continues, the Saints should have their eyes on several names from this LSU roster when the 2027 NFL Draft rolls around.
Jordan Ross looks like the kind of edge talent New Orleans can’t ignore. He was the defensive MVP of the game, wrecking things off the edge with an interception return for a touchdown and 1 sack.
One other tackle looked like it should have been a sack, but it didn’t go in the books that way. Ross came into the season with a reputation as a highly sought-after pass rusher, and this start only adds to the buzz.
That kind of player fits a Saints edge group that needs help, especially with Cam Jordan set to retire.
Whit Weeks also made a loud case. The linebacker controlled the defense and kept diagnosing the opposing offense snap after snap. Linebacker may not be the Saints’ biggest hole, but Weeks would still be a clear upgrade there and could form an NFL best with Kaden Elliss and Danny Stutsman.
And then there’s Trey’Dez Green, who gives New Orleans another interesting offensive option to track. The Saints already drafted Oscar Delp and have a solid tight end room with Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant, but the offense is using more TEs in 2026, so there’s room for more.
Johnson is not young, and while Delp is expected to be his successor, Green would be a strong partner for him. He’s a good blocker, and his size makes him a steady target for any quarterback.
In Other News...
Cam Jordan's 2026 Outlook Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Cam Jordans 2025 season gave the Saints another reminder of how much he still anchors their defense, with the veteran edge rusher finishing atop the team with 10.5 sacks. Before the hamstring issue surfaced, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley was already talking up Jordans work in practice, a sign the Saints were expecting him to keep setting the tone entering 2026.
Now the focus shifts to how quickly Jordan can get back to that level once camp and the new season get underway. The injury could slow the start of his 2026 campaign, which makes the early part of the year worth watching closely for a Saints defense that still leans heavily on his presence and leadership. [Read more 🡒]
Saints May Have Another Wide Receiver Decision Brewing Already
KJ Duffs showing against UMASS only added to the early buzz around a receiver the Saints already have on the radar for the 2027 NFL Draft. The Rutgers wideout put his catching ability and athleticism on display, and the appeal is pretty easy to see from New Orleans side: size, dependable hands and the kind of contested-catch profile that fits a team always trying to build more reliable options on the outside.
The Saints are still sorting through their current receiver picture, and that reality could shape how aggressively they look at the position next offseason. If health and performance become issues, a player like Duff would make plenty of sense as a potential first-round target, especially for a team that knows it may need another pass-catching answer sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Get An Early Road Test That Could Shape Expectations
The early part of the 2026 season will already come with a measuring-stick game for New Orleans, with a trip to Ford Field set to open the Saints road slate. Detroits full schedule was released around the matchup, giving the game a little extra context, but for the Saints the bigger takeaway is simpler: this is the kind of September test that can start shaping how a season is viewed before it really settles in.
The Lions will host New Orleans in the opener, with the game set for Fox and streaming options also available, which should put the matchup in a prominent window for a national audience. For the Saints, it is the sort of assignment that can reveal a lot early, especially on the road against a team whose schedule and expectations will be under the microscope all season. [Read more 🡒]