Tyler Shough's electrifying play ignites New Orleans. A top draft pick and revitalized offense position the Saints for a surprising 10-7 season and NFC South crown.
For years, the New Orleans Saints have been the NFL’s equivalent of a high-stakes gambler trying to pay off one credit card with another. The "salary cap gymnastics" of the Mickey Loomis era kept the window cracked, but the 2025 season—a 6-11 finish that felt like hitting rock bottom, finally forced the franchise to look in the mirror.
However, as we peer into the 2026 season, the view from Poydras Street isn’t just optimistic, it’s borderline electric. Between a surprising solution at quarterback and a top-10 draft pick on the horizon, the Saints are positioned for their most significant leap since the 2017 "Home Run" draft.
The Tyler Shough Effect: A Franchise Found?
The headline of the 2026 season is undoubtedly Tyler Shough. Coming off a 2025 campaign where he was named a finalist for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Shough has done something no Saints QB has done since Drew Brees: he’s provided a sense of inevitability.
His 67.6% completion percentage wasn't just "good for a rookie"; it was historic. Under Kellen Moore’s offense, Shough looked decisive and mobile, dragging a talent-depleted roster to a 4-1 finish to end the year. For 2026, he isn't just the starter—he’s the centerpiece.
The Roster: Youth Infusion vs. Aging Legends
The 2026 roster is a fascinating study in transition.
- The Pillars: Chris Olave remains an All-Pro caliber target, and the offensive line has been bolstered by 2025 first-rounder Kelvin Banks Jr.and Taliese Fuaga.
- The Question Marks: Alvin Kamara and Demario Davis are the heart and soul, but their "football clocks" are ticking. Davis remains PFF's highest-graded Saint, but the team can no longer rely on him to be the sole eraser on defense.
- The X-Factor: Chase Youngfound his Pro Bowl form in New Orleans, winning NFC Defensive Player of the Month in late 2025.If he stays healthy, he is the elite pass rusher the team has lacked since Trey Hendrickson's departure.
The Mock Draft: Picking at No. 8
With the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Saints are in a "Best Player Available" position that addresses a glaring need. Current mocks and industry buzz point to three distinct paths:
Jordyn Tyson: WR (Arizona State) | A dynamic "X" receiver to pair with Olave and give Shough a true red-zone threat.
Rueben Bain Jr.: EDGE (Miami) | A "game-wrecker" to bookend Chase Young and eventually replace Cam Jordan.
Caleb Downs: S (Ohio State) | An elite playmaker for Brandon Staley’s defense to solidify the secondary.
My Prediction: The Saints will take Jordyn Tyson. In a Kellen Moore offense, you can never have enough weapons, and ensuring Shough has an elite duo at receiver is the quickest way to win the NFC South.
2026 Record Prediction: 10-7 (NFC South Champions)
The 2025 season was a tale of two halves. The 1-7 start under Spencer Rattler was a nightmare, but the 4-1 finish under Shough was a blueprint.
The 2026 schedule features a "fourth-place finisher" slate, meaning the Saints will face a lighter path than their division rivals. With a stabilized offensive line, a Year 2 jump from Shough, and a high-impact rookie wideout, the Saints are no longer "scrappy contenders." They are the favorites to reclaim the South.