2026 NFL Draft Team Needs & Predictions: Saints (2026)

The New Orleans Saints finally have clarity at quarterback—and that changes everything about their 2026 offseason plan. If Tyler Shough is the real deal, the Saints’ draft strategy shifts from searching for answers to protecting and supporting a young franchise QB while navigating a brutal cap situation.

This Saints-only breakdown highlights the biggest roster holes, key 2026/2027 free agents, and how New Orleans can prioritize offensive line, running back, and defensive depth to maximize this roster in 2026.

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Team Needs: WR, CB, EDGE, DT

2026 Free Agents Key losses: C Luke Fortner, LB Demario Davis, CB Alontae Taylor

2026 Free Agents:

• WR: Dante Pettis
• TE: Taysom Hill, Foster Moreau, Jack Stoll, Mason Pline (ERFA)
• OL: LT Landon Young, C Will Clapp
• EDGE: Jonah Williams, Chris Rumph II
• DL: Cameron Jordan, Jonathan Bullard
• CB: Michael Davis
• S: Ugo Amadi, Terrell Burgess

2027 Free Agents:

• RB: Ty Chandler, Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Audric Estime (RFA), Evan Hull (ERFA)
• WR: Chris Olave, Samori Toure (RFA), Ronnie Bell (RFA), Kevin Austin (ERFA), Elijah Cooks (ERFA), Trey Palmer, Mason Tipton (RFA)
• TE: Moliki Matavao (ERFA)
• OL: OT Nick Saldiveri, RT Asim Richards, G Will Sherman (ERFA)
• DL: Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd, Bryan Bresee (CLUB), Myles Cole (ERFA)
• LB: Isaiah Stalbird (RFA)
• CB: Rejzohn Wright (ERFA), Beanie Bishop (ERFA)
• S: Julian Blackmon, Jordan Howden

A shame that the Saints waited so long to start Tyler Shough last season. The rookie QB showed promise as a potential franchise piece for New Orleans. Shough was great throwing at the intermediate level (stickier stat year over year) and on third downs (tougher to replicate, but impressive).

Shough’s 68% completion rate on intermediate throws ranked No. 1 in the NFL in 2025. Per Next Gen Stats, Shough finished 8th in completion rate (67.6%) overall.

In Shough’s last eight games, he averaged 17.8 fantasy points per game. 260 passing yards and 21.5 rushing yards per game (top-15 fantasy QB numbers).

The Saints saw enough to build around Shough this offseason, so they are set at the QB position.

As for team needs, the Saints EVP & GM Mickey Loomis emphasized the offensive line as a priority when starting a young QB.

HC Kellen Moore also spoke about taking the best player available in the draft. The Saints have some questions to answer at center and guard, given their OL crop hitting FA. Eric McCoy will be back under center after missing the second half of last year with a torn biceps injury.

They definitely have to add a guard, whether it’s in free agency or the draft.

OG David Edwards was the exact guy they needed to bring in… signing him in for a 4-year $61 million contract. They also re-signed G Dillon Radunz to a two-year deal.

The Saints also had a big need at RB.

Devin Neal and Audric Estime are on the roster alongside long-time veteran Alvin Kamara.

Depending on Moore’s confidence in Neal and Estime, the idea was that the Saints were likely to spend an early pick on a running back in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Saints can save $8.5 million in cap space by cutting Kamara after June 1. The Saints RB finished second in fantasy points scored UNDER expectation in 2025. Career lows in rushing efficiency marks for Kamara. At the start of the offseason, he has the largest cap hit among RBs entering the last year of his deal (which he restructured to stay on the roster).

I theorized that free agent Rico Dowdle could have been a great early-down option to pair with Kamara. Ended up in Pittsburgh (reunited with Mike McCarthy).

Kamara’s targets were also nuked in the Kellen Moore offense: Averaged fewer than 17 receiving yards/game. Kamara was never under 30 in any season during his NFL career. Catches also fell to a career-low 3 per game.

Free agent RB Kenneth Gainwell also has experience playing with Kellen Moore (Philadelphia). He went to Tampa Bay.

Given the Saints’ poor run numbers in 2025 (31st in EPA/rush) pretty obvious that they will add a free agent RB of note.

The splashy signing they made at RB came in the form of Travis Etienne, formerly of the Jaguars. Great fit in with Kellen Moore’s offense.

And perhaps an indicator that the team is ready to move on from Kamara, or at least dramatically reduce his role. Because Etienne doesn’t necessarily project as a piece to use in tandem with Kamara, but rather just take over as the team’s RB1.

Kamara could also retire or get traded. If I am betting now whether he is a Saint in 2026….I would say he is not.

The last time Kellen Moore called offensive plays after his team signed a free agent RB to a lucrative contract….well, Saquon Barkley rushed for a LOT of rushing yards. Etienne has finished no worse than RB17 when he has played at least 17 games in four NFL seasons played (missed entire rookie year). Three years with nearly 1,400 yards from scrimmage.

And apparently, we have been saying his name wrong…as it is pronounced Travis Ay-Chan.

Two elite fantasy RBs with the last name Achane. Fantasy football analysts’ worst nightmare…

More WR depth also makes sense, as there’s not much behind Chris Olave (who is looking for a long-term deal despite contemplating retirement last season due to concussions). Devaughn Vele projects as the No. 2 WR, but another pass-catcher in the draft makes sense. A third compliment to those top two guys makes a lot of sense. The coaches have pumped up former Washington Huskie and New England Patriots washout, Ja’Lynn Polk, as a candidate to fill that void. If anything, his archetype as an outside, possession receiver might be who the Saints look to target in this year’s class.

Shough played with Louisville’s Chris Bell in his final year in school. Or….Moore makes a potential play for a current Eagles WR A.J. Brown.

The Saints also signed TE Noah Fant, who they were interested in signing last offseason. He ended up going to Cincy during the 2025 season. Fant can play the more traditional in-line role while Juwan Johnson operates from the slot. I would note that Johnson’s production fell to below 10 PPG when in-line tight ends Jack Stoll and Foster Moreau were in the lineup. Also fell to sub 8.5 PPG in PPR (TE24) when Devaughn Vele was healthy. 8 games without those three players?

TE5 in PPR.

Defensively, LB, CB, and EDGE highlight the needs based on their top FAs. Defensive tackle isn’t much of a concern, as the Saints’ run defense did post the third-best EPA/rush allowed in 2025. DT John Ridgeway re-signed a two-year deal.

I will say they have a bunch of DL players hitting free agency in 2027, so I could see more depth here, especially if Cam Jordan does not return.

They signed LB Kaden Eliss to replace Demario Douglas.

The Saints look like a team on the rise entering 2026 after a strong finish in 2025.

They could easily make a luxury pick inside the top-10 of the NFL Draft with someone like Kenyon Sadiq.

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