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The New Orleans Saints are entering the 2026 season with a clearer direction than they had at this time a year ago. After Tyler Shough burst onto the scene last in his rookie season, Kellen Moore, Mickey Loomis, and the Saints' front office spent the offseason building around him. Not only has the situation around Shough improved, but Moore now has access to more versatile offensive weapons.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently laid out the best and worst-case scenarios for every NFL team entering the season. For the Saints, the best-case scenario centers around their two biggest offseason acquisitions:
Etienne gives the Saints a proven running back who can impact the game as both a runner and a receiver, amid questions about Alvin Kamara's future in New Orleans. Tyson has the potential to give Shough another young target who can stretch the field and create separation with some of the best in the league. If both players live up to the expectations, they should make the offense less dependent on Olave and Johnson.
“Moore oversaw a Super Bowl offense with the Philadelphia Eagles two years ago,” Knox wrote. “While the Saints probably won’t be Super Bowl-ready this season, they could have a top-10 offense if Etienne and Tyson successfully round out the offense.”
It could sound ambitious, but it's not unrealistic if Shough continues to build off what he did last season. The Saints' offense has moments late in the year where it looked plenty explosive and much more dangerous than it did earlier in the year.
The downside is that, yes, everything still revolves around Shough's development. There is a world where Shough fails to improve in Year 2, which would be the Saints' worst-case scenario. The 2025 second-round pick showed plenty of upside during his rookie season, but the Saints need him to prove that his late-season success wasn't a fluke.
Since Shough is on the higher end when it comes to age, he resembles more of a league-ready, above-average starter rather than a raw prospect with untapped potential. With a better supporting cast, a coach who has shown he can run productive offenses, and a weak division, the Saints should have a real chance to compete. If Shough can take another step forward, the Saints could become one of the more surprising teams in the NFC.
If he does not take the Year 2 leap, the offense may settle into an average unit despite offseason remodeling. For the Saints, the best-case scenario is simple: Shough builds on what he showed in flashes, Etienne and Tyson add a new dimension, and Moore is finally able to open up the offense. A potential plateau from Shough would be the worst-case scenario.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL Minicamp Buzz: Best, worst case scenarios for the Saints in 2026?
Continue reading...
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently laid out the best and worst-case scenarios for every NFL team entering the season. For the Saints, the best-case scenario centers around their two biggest offseason acquisitions:
Etienne gives the Saints a proven running back who can impact the game as both a runner and a receiver, amid questions about Alvin Kamara's future in New Orleans. Tyson has the potential to give Shough another young target who can stretch the field and create separation with some of the best in the league. If both players live up to the expectations, they should make the offense less dependent on Olave and Johnson.
“Moore oversaw a Super Bowl offense with the Philadelphia Eagles two years ago,” Knox wrote. “While the Saints probably won’t be Super Bowl-ready this season, they could have a top-10 offense if Etienne and Tyson successfully round out the offense.”
It could sound ambitious, but it's not unrealistic if Shough continues to build off what he did last season. The Saints' offense has moments late in the year where it looked plenty explosive and much more dangerous than it did earlier in the year.
The downside is that, yes, everything still revolves around Shough's development. There is a world where Shough fails to improve in Year 2, which would be the Saints' worst-case scenario. The 2025 second-round pick showed plenty of upside during his rookie season, but the Saints need him to prove that his late-season success wasn't a fluke.
Since Shough is on the higher end when it comes to age, he resembles more of a league-ready, above-average starter rather than a raw prospect with untapped potential. With a better supporting cast, a coach who has shown he can run productive offenses, and a weak division, the Saints should have a real chance to compete. If Shough can take another step forward, the Saints could become one of the more surprising teams in the NFC.
If he does not take the Year 2 leap, the offense may settle into an average unit despite offseason remodeling. For the Saints, the best-case scenario is simple: Shough builds on what he showed in flashes, Etienne and Tyson add a new dimension, and Moore is finally able to open up the offense. A potential plateau from Shough would be the worst-case scenario.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL Minicamp Buzz: Best, worst case scenarios for the Saints in 2026?
Continue reading...
