The New Orleans Saints are past the halfway point of the season, which makes it a good time to look back at preseason expectations and see where the read was sharp - and where it missed badly. One preseason ranking of the Saints’ offensive positions, ordered from most trustworthy to least, looks a lot different now.
The biggest miss came with the running backs. That group was placed at No. 1 before the season, with the idea that Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara would give the Saints a steady, explosive pairing. The thinking was that sharing snaps would keep both backs fresh and healthy.
Instead, the unit has fallen well short. Injuries have played a role, but the issues go beyond that. Whether the blame falls on the blocking, the scheme, or something else, the production hasn’t matched expectations, and the Saints need more from the backfield if they want to make a playoff run.
The wide receivers, meanwhile, should have been the easy call at the top. Chris Olave and DeVaughn Vele gave the group a strong foundation, and even without Jordyn Tyson, there was enough proven talent to make this the safest bet on the offense.
Olave has become a bona fide star, Vele has been ultra-reliable, and the rookies have flashed enough to matter. That group, along with Tyler Shough, has helped keep the Saints in NFC South title contention.
Tight end landed in the next spot, and that feels about right in hindsight. The position hasn’t been a difference-maker, aside from some glimpses from Juwan Johnson, but it also hasn’t dragged the offense down.
The biggest individual miss came at quarterback. Tyler Shough was ranked fourth, with concern about a possible sophomore slump even though there was plenty to like about his upside.
The original view was cautious: “So, it’s wise to temper expectations and not proclaim him as a top-five quarterback in the league,” I wrote. “Still, it’s an uber-exciting position, and could end up as arguably the top group on the team, but we need to see it for an extended period first.”
That extended period has arrived. Shough has already delivered multiple game-winning and comeback drives, and when the offense has stalled, he’s been the one to drag it back into the fight. What was once a question is now a clear answer: the Saints have found their franchise quarterback.
The offensive line rounded out the list, with the tackles at No. 5 and the interior at No. 6.
That skepticism has held up. Depth has been a real problem, the run game hasn’t gotten going, and the pass protection remains shaky.
There’s still time for some of those groups to settle in. But right now, the Saints look like a team that needs to spend more resources in the trenches.
In Other News...
Saints Top Draft Slot Could Reshape Two Trouble Spots
With the draft board starting to take shape, the Saints are looking at a first-round decision that could help solve two of their biggest roster questions at once. Offensive tackle Zeroue Williams and edge rusher Devan Thompkins both fit areas where New Orleans could use a long-term boost, and each brings a different kind of appeal depending on how the team wants to attack the 12th pick.
Williams offers the kind of size and positional profile that can stabilize the line, while Thompkins would give the Saints another way to pressure opposing quarterbacks. The coaching staffs direction will matter here, as will how the front office weighs immediate need against overall value, but the larger point is clear: this pick could be the one that starts to reshape two trouble spots on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Pass Rush Is Suddenly Raising A Bigger Question
The Saints have found a real edge off the corner in Chase Young and Carl Granderson, and it has changed the feel of their defense this season. Young sits second in the league in sacks, Granderson is tied for fourth, and together they have become one of the NFLs most productive pass-rushing pairs. Grandersons recent run has been especially notable, with multiple sacks in four straight games, something the franchise had not seen since 2013.
For a team trying to build on its defensive identity, the obvious next question is how sustainable this surge really is. Young and Granderson have given New Orleans a legitimate weekly pressure threat, but the bigger challenge now is whether the Saints can keep getting that kind of disruption when opponents start adjusting their protections and game plans around them. [Read more 🡒]
Chase Young Is Giving The Saints Defense A New Edge
Chase Young has settled into a more prominent role since arriving in New Orleans, and the edge rusher sounds like a player who knows exactly what kind of impact he can still make. Through parts of three seasons with the Saints, he has produced 23.5 sacks, a sign that his game has found some consistency after earlier stops with Washington and San Francisco. For a defense trying to keep the Saints in the mix in a competitive NFC South, that kind of presence matters.
Young spoke confidently this week about his ability to win against blockers and about how much he has grown since his earlier years in the league. At 3-5, New Orleans still has work to do, but the Saints have reason to lean on him as one of the tone-setters on that side of the ball. The bigger question now is how far that edge can carry a defense that needs more than just flashes to stay in the hunt. [Read more 🡒]