The Saints went into the offseason with a clear mandate: give Tyler Shough and Kellen Moore as much firepower as possible. New Orleans answered by adding Travis Etienne and Noah Fant, then using a first-round pick on Jordyn Tyson. With Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara and Juwan Johnson also back, the offense looks stocked on paper.
Still, the wide receiver room has become a talking point, and for good reason. Olave and Tyson are the obvious top two options, but the question is what happens if injuries hit.
In that sense, the idea of adding more capable bodies at receiver makes sense. Depth at any spot is never wasted, and teams are usually better off making proactive moves than scrambling later.
That concern was echoed in a recent assessment that said, "Drafting Jordyn Tyson eighth overall to pair with Chris Olave arguably solidified one of the top young wide receiver duos in the NFL, but there’s still significant risk here. Olave missed nine games in 2024 after suffering two concussions.
Tyson missed time due to injury in all four of his college seasons. And who is behind those two guys?
Devaughn Vele? Ja’Lynn Polk?
Mason Tipton? A couple of Day 3 rookies?
It’s sparse and could make the offense very boom-or-bust in 2026."
That view is a little tough on Vele, who was starting to come on late in 2025 while the focus was elsewhere. Polk also profiles as a low-risk, high-reward addition, and Bryce Lance deserves more attention than he’s getting after turning heads in OTAs.
There’s no question experience matters, and the concern about depth is real. But it’s also too early to write off Vele, Polk or Lance before they’ve had a real chance to show what they can do.
Projection is part of the job, and Lance, in particular, fits the offense with his ability to stretch the defense.
In Other News...
Saints Camp Battle Could Force A Defensive Line Shakeup
The Saints have spent consecutive drafts trying to fortify the middle of their defensive front, taking Christen Miller in the second round this year and Vernon Broughton in the third round last year. That investment has turned interior line work into one of the most interesting camp battles on the roster, with Miller and Broughton joining Bryan Bresee, Davon Godchaux and Nathan Shepherd in a crowded competition for playing time and, at least in theory, starting jobs.
Brandon Staleys arrival as defensive coordinator adds another layer to the fight, because the way New Orleans uses its interior linemen could change along with the scheme. The Saints want a sturdier run defense and more flexibility from snap to snap, which makes this more than a simple numbers game. By the end of camp, the real question may not be who is on the field, but how many of those spots are actually open. [Read more 🡒]
Spencer Rattler Enters A Preseason That Could Change Everything
Spencer Rattler is heading into a preseason that carries more weight than most August reps. The Saints have a backup quarterback battle behind Tyler Shough, with Rattler and Zach Wilson competing for the job, and the opportunity gives Rattler a chance to show he belongs in a bigger role than the one he currently occupies in New Orleans.
For Rattler, the stakes are broader than one roster spot. The preseason will be his stage to show other teams what he can do in limited snaps, and the Saints still view him as a valuable piece even as they weigh whether to keep him or listen if the right offer comes along. How he plays over the next few weeks could shape not just the depth chart, but the next stop in his career. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Camp Could Flip Three Key Position Battles Fast
Training camp is where depth charts get rewritten, and the Saints have a few spots that could turn more quickly than expected once the pads come on. The backup quarterback job, the last receiver slot and the right side of the offensive line all have some intrigue attached to them, which is enough to make the coming practices and preseason games worth watching closely in New Orleans.
Brock Rechsteiner has a path if the receiver room opens up, especially if the ball security issues around him keep showing up, while the interior line picture could shift if Jeremiah Wright keeps developing at the right pace. Add in the quarterback competition behind the starter, and this is the kind of camp where a few strong weeks can change the conversation fast, even if the final answers are still a little ways off. [Read more 🡒]