Take a look at the New Orleans Saints receiving corps from Week 18 last year to Week 1 this season. That’s a group of Kevin Austin Jr., Ronnie Bell and Samori Toure versus Chris Olave, DeVaughn Vele and Jordyn Tyson. The difference is night and day, and the encouraging part is Tyler Shough showed promise in the season finale.Â
Week 18 was an extreme but even adding the context of Olave only missing that game doesn’t change the stark difference between this year and last year. It adds more top end talent but the Saints keep that same top end talent while adding a more involved Vele, a top-10 pick and significantly more depth than last year’s corps.Â
One could argue this was the Saints biggest weakness a year ago. Fast forward to this season, ESPN's Mike Clay sees the position as the biggest strength on the roster. They've improved top to bottom at receiver. Flipping the room this quickly would have felt impossible at the top of the year
Saints have protected themselves from repeating 2025
The pairing of Olave and Tyson is the lead story in the receiver room, and it should be. The Saints should have their most exciting receiver duo in a decade. Sometimes the depth of that room being bolstered flies under the radar.
The Saints have 7 receivers who could make the initial 53 man roster. They're likely to keep 6, but having 7 receivers you feel comfortable with gives the Saints a contingency plan they didn't have a year ago.
Rookies Bryce Lance and Barion Brown will likely start the year as minor parts of the passing attack. If injuries strike, both provide good ceilings as a pass catcher. Ideally, they'd have time to develop, but they also strip away the desperation that comes from injuries happening.
Look at the players who likely won't make the roster and the depth becomes even more impressive. If Ja'Lynn Polk wins the final roster spot at wide receiver, everyone else can reasonably make it to the practice squad after final roster cuts.
The biggest name of that bunch would be Trey Palmer. He's a guy who could come up to the active roster on any given week and contribute. Players like Austin Jr. are prime examples of experienced players who could make their way up if things go wrong.
The Saints obviously hope the room doesn't end as decimated as it did a year ago, and it shouldn't unless they get rid of two receivers mid-season again. If it somehow happens again, there's more optimism as bodies drop.
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