The New Orleans Saints have had a season of late sparks and early struggles, sitting at 5-10 with just a few weeks left in the regular season. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s this: Kellen Moore’s offense is finally starting to click, and rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is showing signs of life under center. The pairing has brought some much-needed rhythm to the Saints' attack, even if the turnaround came too late to salvage postseason hopes-or earn much recognition when it comes to league-wide honors.
And that brings us to the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl Games. According to the official rosters, the Saints are one of just three teams in the entire league without a single player selected to the NFC's initial Pro Bowl squad.
They join the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings in that unenviable category. Every other team managed to send at least one representative.
Now, let’s be honest-Shough was never going to be in the Pro Bowl conversation this year. He’s still getting his feet under him in the league.
But that doesn’t mean the Saints are without deserving talent. Veterans like Alvin Kamara and Cameron Jordan have been Pro Bowl staples in the past, but neither has played at that level this season.
Kamara’s production has dipped, and Jordan, while still a leader in the locker room, hasn’t had the same disruptive impact off the edge that we’ve come to expect.
But if you’re looking for snubs-or at least players who had a legitimate case-you don’t have to look far.
**Chris Olave stands out the most. ** The third-year wide receiver has been a bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent offense.
Despite rotating quarterbacks between Shough and Spencer Rattler, Olave has managed to haul in 92 catches for 1,044 yards and eight touchdowns. That’s not just solid-it’s borderline elite, especially when you consider the instability at QB and the lack of a consistent offensive rhythm for much of the year.
So why isn’t he in the Pro Bowl? Well, the NFC wide receiver group this season is absolutely stacked.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (104 catches, 1,637 yards, 10 TDs), Puka Nacua (114 catches, 1,592 yards, 8 TDs), George Pickens (88 catches, 1,342 yards, 9 TDs), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (98 catches, 1,194 yards, 11 TDs) make up the Pro Bowl selections at WR.
And when you stack Olave’s numbers next to theirs, the picture becomes clearer.
Olave trails all of them in yardage except St. Brown, and he’s tied for the fewest touchdowns among the group.
He has fewer receptions than everyone but Pickens. So while his numbers are impressive, they’re just a tick below the elite tier that made the cut.
It’s not a knock on Olave-it’s a testament to how deep and talented the NFC receiver pool is this year.
Still, if any of those four WRs end up sitting out the Pro Bowl-whether due to injury, a Super Bowl berth, or the usual opt-outs-Olave should be at the top of the list as a replacement. He’s earned that much.
On the defensive side, there are a few names worth mentioning, even if none of them were outright snubs. Cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry have been steady, showing flashes of high-level play throughout the season.
Safety Jonas Sanker, pass rusher Chase Young, and linebacker Demario Davis have all had solid campaigns as well. But none of them put together the kind of dominant, headline-grabbing season that typically earns a Pro Bowl nod.
Taylor and McKinstry have held their own in coverage, and McKinstry in particular has shown promise as a rising young corner. Davis continues to be a stabilizing force in the middle of the defense, and Young has had his moments as a pass rusher. But again, when you compare their seasons to the standout defenders around the NFC, it’s hard to argue they were snubbed in any dramatic way.
So here’s where things stand: the Saints are currently shut out of the 2026 Pro Bowl. No players on the initial roster, no clear-cut snubs outside of Olave, and a season that’s been more about late development than sustained excellence.
But that doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare. There’s young talent here-Olave, McKinstry, Shough-and if the offense continues to evolve under Kellen Moore, this team could be a very different story in 2026.
For now, though, the Saints will have to watch the Pro Bowl from home. But don’t be surprised if Olave gets the call as a late addition. He’s earned it-and then some.