The New Orleans Saints hype train is going at full speed ahead of the 2026 season. Tyler Shough closed the season strong and the team made some notable additions in free agency and the draft. While fans may be confident the Saints will go over 7.5 wins, Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon doesn't share that confidence.
It's natural the Saints would have some doubters. The hype has picked up quickly, but they're clearly still in a rebuild. On top of that, many of the reasons to be excited haven't played in a Saints uniform or in the NFL at all.
Gagnon's confidence level on taking the over on 7.5 wins is moderate. He isn't ruling it out, but there's no real conviction either way. It isn't the straddling of the fence around the team, but rather the explanation behind it, that will catch fans' eyes.
Is the Saints offensive line fool's gold?
Of all the points Gagnon made, his stance on the offensive line stuck out. Saying the Saints defense performed better than they should have last year isn't an uncommon thought, and Shough only started 9 games. Of course he needs time to prove he's the guy.
Gagnon saying the offensive line "still looks like more of a liability than an asset" digs at one of the bigger beliefs of the offseason. The Saints brought in David Edwards, and it felt like the offensive line was setting up to be a strength on the team. Gagnon gave what could be a chilling reality check about the unit.
The left side of the line is strong. It's hard to see Gagnon categorizing the duo of Kelvin Banks Jr. and Edwards as a liability. From there, it's open season on the rest of the line.
Taliese Fuaga is the one player to fight for. He had a strong rookie season at left tackle before being moved back to his natural position of right tackle. His constant bouts with injuries made it impossible to build on that momentum.
Saints fans have largely given Fuaga the benefit of the doubt for a less than stellar second season. Gagnon doesn't appear to have done the same, and in many ways, how you feel about Fuaga determines how you feel about the Saints offensive line.
The general consensus of Erik McCoy is he's a fantastic player but has to prove he can remain healthy. Cesar Ruiz is the one objective liability on the starting lineup. Mickey Loomis called him out after the season, and he needs to take a step up in 2026.
After adding Edwards, there's belief in the Saints front line to finally both provide protection for the quarterback and open lanes for running backs. There are questions, but most fans are genuinely optimistic about what results we'll see. Gagnon's concerns brings up questions if the unit is really just fool's gold.
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