The New Orleans Saints are caught in a strange limbo right now. They have just enough talent to stay competitive, but just enough holes for every game to still feel like somewhat of a struggle.

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has stepped in and shown signs of real promise, but he is surrounded by a team that still lacks identity.

The wide receivers are struggling to make tough catches. The tight ends are dropping game changers. The defense cannot finish plays and mobile quarterbacks seem to treat the Saints pass rush like a light jog.

As this season unfolds, some players are rising. Others are sliding further into frustration.

Let’s take a closer look at who is trending up and who is falling fast.

Tyler Shough is the rookie quarterback who is genuinely trending upward.

Selected in the second round of the draft, he has taken over the starting role following a rough start by the Saints under their previous QB, Spencer Rattler.

Shough brings a fresh spark, which is important given the broader roster issues.

For a team whose offensive line is under pressure and for whom pass protection and pressure on opposing QBs are major problems, having a young QB who shows promise is a bright spot.

With Shough at the helm, there’s a sense that things could improve under his direction, even if many other holes remain, but he gives the Saints a reason to hope despite those holes.

Cooks is absolutely sinking right now. He’s still on the roster and, on paper, a veteran presence, but his production is absolutely minimal. This season he’s caught only 19 passes for 165 yards and zero touchdowns, with an average of just 8.7 yards per reception, per ESPN.

For a receiver that is expected to “do the dirty work” (catches in traffic, blocking, contested catches) and to help shoulder the offensive load, those numbers are unacceptable.

This level of output is extremely low for a veteran receiver, and the offense also lacks a consistent physical red zone target, which contributes to issues moving the ball in tight areas.

As a result, Cooks is not currently filling the typical role of a high-impact WR1 or WR2 in this system.

Chris Olave has better raw numbers (60 receptions, 664 yards, 4 touchdowns per ESPN) in 2025 so far.

These numbers do suggest a productive receiving season on the surface, but they also reflect some other key challenges...

The team has struggled in the red zone and cited a need for a physical presence. They seem to have no red zone targets, just three little speed receivers and a tight end that puts the ball on the ground.

Olave has not consistently been that physical threat in traffic, and there have been specific moments where that shows, like the deep contested catch he could not hold on to, or the high pass that was dropped, per PlayerProfiler.

It also ties into a bigger concern with the Saints offense, which has lacked receivers capable of creating separation or winning in contested situations, an area where Olave has not stepped up reliably.

And while Olave is contributing in terms of volume, he may not be fulfilling the role of a true lead receiver capable of changing games in tight spots, especially in a system described as missing receivers who “do the dirty work,” such as making tough catches in traffic or blocking downfield.

A lack of red-zone targets, tight windows not being thrown into, and the offense being in its infancy, Olave is not rising as fast as the team needs him to.

That being said, he is not dramatically crashing, but slipping relative to the team’s needs and expectations, trending Chris Olave downward this week.