The New Orleans Saints enter 2026 with a very different feel than they had at the start of 2025. Spencer Rattler opened last season as the Week 1 starter, and there wasn’t much optimism around the direction of the team. That changed fast once Tyler Shough took over.
Shough gave New Orleans a spark, and he did it while working with limited help around him. He finished the season 5-4 and built a strong connection with Chris Olave, a pairing that became one of the clearest reasons for confidence heading into the offseason.
That confidence showed up in how the Saints approached their roster. The team made a splash in free agency by adding Travis Etienne and David Edwards, then doubled down by taking Jordyn Tyson with the eighth overall pick. Head coach Kellen Moore and the front office clearly believe Shough can lead a competitive team, especially in a weak NFC South.
There are still real concerns, though. Demario Davis is gone, and while Kaden Ellis is a capable replacement, he does not fully replace the veteran presence Davis brought to the defense.
The secondary is another question mark, especially after Alontae Taylor’s departure, and the group is young. New Orleans did keep Cameron Jordan, but several of the defensive pieces that helped shape the 2025 unit will not be back.
The schedule helps the Saints’ case. Finishing last in the division comes with a benefit, and New Orleans will get a last-place schedule that includes matchups with the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and Las Vegas Raiders, all of whom won no more than five games in 2025.
With all of that in mind, the prediction lands at 10-7 and an NFC South title for New Orleans. That would be a sharp jump from the 6-11 mark from 2025, but the Saints are trending up, and the combination of a young quarterback, a weak division, and a manageable schedule gives them a real path to a strong season.
In Other News...
Why Saints Fans Should Keep An Eye On Zxavian Harris
Zxavian Harris landed in New Orleans as one of the more intriguing undrafted rookies on the Saints radar, and the appeal starts with the kind of profile teams do not find every spring. The Ole Miss defensive tackle arrives with the sort of size and athletic traits that can make a coaching staff pause, especially when a team is looking for interior help and willing to bet on upside as training camp approaches.
The Saints are still sorting out exactly what Harris can become at the next level, which is why he is worth keeping an eye on once the pads come on. His path to this point was shaped by physical questions and other concerns that pushed him out of the draft, but New Orleans is giving him a shot to prove those issues do not define his future. [Read more 🡒]
Alvin Kamara Suddenly Faces A Real Saints Roster Cliffhanger
Alvin Kamaras place in New Orleans suddenly looks a lot less secure than it did not long ago. The Saints running back is coming off a season in which he posted a career-low 657 scrimmage yards and only one touchdown, and his availability has become part of the conversation too after missing 13 games over the past three years.
Now the roster picture has gotten even murkier with the Saints adding Travis Etienne Jr., and Kamaras contract is part of the equation as well. His $11.5 million salary in 2026 is a major number to watch, and after a stretch of uneven production and missed time, the question is whether New Orleans can still justify keeping him in place. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Open Practice Schedule Includes A Summer Return Fans Will Love
The Saints have mapped out a summer practice slate that gives fans a rare chance to see training camp up close, with 10 open sessions spread across the month and a mix of work at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie and a return to Tulanes Yulman Stadium. The schedule also includes joint practices, the kind of August dates that usually draw the most attention because they offer a little more edge than a standard camp workout.
For fans, the appeal is as much about access as it is about football. Admission is free, though tickets must be reserved in advance, and the team is again opening up live coverage through its mobile app so supporters who cannot make it in person can still follow along. With the calendar now set, the next thing worth watching is how the Saints use those joint sessions and the stadium stop to shape the rest of camp. [Read more 🡒]