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The New Orleans Saints are gaining some real respect for their offensive skill group as the 2026 NFL season inches closer. The Saints' wide receiver, tight end, and running back group was recently ranked No. 13 in the NFL by ESPN's Bill Barnwell, a significant jump from last season's No. 24 ranking. It's a strong sign of how much better the offense looks on paper after the Saints added more talent around Tyler Shough, who will be entering his second season.
Entering the 2026 season, the Saints' offensive core is not a finished product. Shough is being supported by Chris Olave, a rookie first-round wide receiver, Jordyn Tyson, and Travis Etienne Jr., while also dealing with some uncertainty around Alvin Kamara's future in New Orleans.
One of the biggest reasons for the major step up in the ranking is Olave, who finally stayed healthy long enough to put together the kind of season that New Orleans had desired. The 26-year-old wide receiver had the “career season his talents deserve” after finishing with over 1,100 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, despite dealing with an uncertain quarterback situation, Barnwell noted.
Juwan Johnson is also a major reason the Saints landed so high on the ranking. Johnson, 29, finished third among NFL tight ends with 889 receiving yards last season, giving Shough a reliable middle-of-the-field target who can help take pressure off the rest of the offense.
"Playing from behind and in a dome helps, but Johnson was eighth in yards per route run and turned over 14% of his catches into 20-plus-yard gains," Barnwell wrote. "He's not a consistent red zone threat and hasn't been quite at this level before, but Johnson profiles as a well-above-average tight end this season."
The Saints also added Tyson in the first round, giving the team another high-upside receiving option. The injury history is worth noting — his presence on the field should still take pressure off Olave and the rest of the offense. New Orleans also selected wide receiver Bryce Lance in the 2026 NFL Draft, another likely future contributor.
As for the running backs, Etienne gives the Saints a different feel in the backfield than they have seen in previous years. Barnwell called Etienne a "significant upgrade" over Kamara as a runner. That does not mean Kamara would be useless if he remained on the roster. He can still help as a receiving back and a situational weapon, but his touches and field time are expected to take a significant dip.
"It remains to be seen whether Kamara sticks on the roster into Week 1, or if the Saints get anything out of trade acquisitions like Devaughn Vele or Ja'Lynn Polk as their third wideout, but this is a fun set of playmakers on a very watchable offense," Barnwell wrote.
No. 13 might feel high for a team that still has plenty to prove. There is still a path to that ranking being realized. If Olave stays healthy, Johnson keeps his 2025 momentum going, Tyson contributes early and stays on the field, and Etienne upgrades the run game, the Saints could have one of the most dangerous skill groups in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: ESPN ranks Saints skills positions among NFL's best supporting casts
Continue reading...
Entering the 2026 season, the Saints' offensive core is not a finished product. Shough is being supported by Chris Olave, a rookie first-round wide receiver, Jordyn Tyson, and Travis Etienne Jr., while also dealing with some uncertainty around Alvin Kamara's future in New Orleans.
One of the biggest reasons for the major step up in the ranking is Olave, who finally stayed healthy long enough to put together the kind of season that New Orleans had desired. The 26-year-old wide receiver had the “career season his talents deserve” after finishing with over 1,100 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, despite dealing with an uncertain quarterback situation, Barnwell noted.
Juwan Johnson is also a major reason the Saints landed so high on the ranking. Johnson, 29, finished third among NFL tight ends with 889 receiving yards last season, giving Shough a reliable middle-of-the-field target who can help take pressure off the rest of the offense.
"Playing from behind and in a dome helps, but Johnson was eighth in yards per route run and turned over 14% of his catches into 20-plus-yard gains," Barnwell wrote. "He's not a consistent red zone threat and hasn't been quite at this level before, but Johnson profiles as a well-above-average tight end this season."
The Saints also added Tyson in the first round, giving the team another high-upside receiving option. The injury history is worth noting — his presence on the field should still take pressure off Olave and the rest of the offense. New Orleans also selected wide receiver Bryce Lance in the 2026 NFL Draft, another likely future contributor.
As for the running backs, Etienne gives the Saints a different feel in the backfield than they have seen in previous years. Barnwell called Etienne a "significant upgrade" over Kamara as a runner. That does not mean Kamara would be useless if he remained on the roster. He can still help as a receiving back and a situational weapon, but his touches and field time are expected to take a significant dip.
"It remains to be seen whether Kamara sticks on the roster into Week 1, or if the Saints get anything out of trade acquisitions like Devaughn Vele or Ja'Lynn Polk as their third wideout, but this is a fun set of playmakers on a very watchable offense," Barnwell wrote.
No. 13 might feel high for a team that still has plenty to prove. There is still a path to that ranking being realized. If Olave stays healthy, Johnson keeps his 2025 momentum going, Tyson contributes early and stays on the field, and Etienne upgrades the run game, the Saints could have one of the most dangerous skill groups in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: ESPN ranks Saints skills positions among NFL's best supporting casts
Continue reading...
