The Saints will have to be players in the draft and in free agency but here are some internal building blocks on the team.
If the Saints don't flat-out have QB1 sewn up for the foreseeable future, Tyler Shough definitely made his case, and his resume is looking good. The 6-foot-5 field general boasted a 67.6 completion percentage. That led to a passer rating of 91.4 in eleven games. Respectable numbers and something to build on in year two.
If this means the pressure to find a quarterback might be settled with an internal candidate, everything else is in flux, but hope isn't lost. The promise Shough displayed is such an encouraging first piece of the puzzle. Hitting in the draft like the Saints did isn't easy, and having this in place will hopefully attract talent to the Big Easy. Shough will also have every opportunity to maximize his skillset in Kellen Moore's offense and under his tutelage.
The pass catchers look good. Although the loss of Rashid Shaheed is unfortunate, it brought back a Seattle fourth and fifth pick in the 2026 draft. Favorite target Chris Olave looks set for a full recovery from his scary blood clot that caused him to miss the season finale. He'll be looking to back up a season of career highs: 100 catches, 1000+ yards, and 16 games played. He's an electric playmaker. He was able to stay on the field more than any year previously.
Closer to the line of scrimmage, Shough's big target, tight-end Juwan Johnson is coming off 77 catches and just shy of 900 yards receiving in a similarly impressive campaign. This kind of pass-catching security blanket is a young quarterback's best friend. Johnson stepped up big in 2025.
One of the biggest points for celebration is that although they finished last in the NFL South, they're not far behind the other teams. They finished with only two fewer wins than the other teams, including playoff-bound division winners Carolina. The Panthers will be hosting a game in the postseason. If Shough can have a leap comparable to Drake Maye, it might be the Saints sneaking into the playoffs next year.
This could buy Moore added time to figure things out because leadership knows the division is up for grabs.
While some big-name veterans may be moving on, the time the Saints' core had with these locker room presences may prove invaluable. Cam Jordan has a decision to make and Alvin Kamara seems set to be a Saints lifer. He could also be a good bridge player during a transition, should they choose to bring someone else in.