The New Orleans Saints have put together an exciting offseason and it has fans clamoring for what should be a fun 2026 campaign. It's hard not to be stoked after seeing Tyler Shough play well in the back half of the 2025 season and watching Mickey Loomis and the front office build around him.
Some notable signings for the Saints were offensive guard David Edwards, running back Travis Etienne, linebacker Kaden Elliss (who is returning after spending a few years in Atlanta), and tight end Noah Fant. Every single one of these players should get meaningful playing time in 2026.
Ben Solak of ESPN has also been impressed with what he's seen from the Saints this offseason. Solak put together a list of the most improved rosters from free agency and had New Orleans fourth on his list.
"The Saints didn't have a ton of cap space, as they're still extricating themselves from void years of seasons past. But the light is on the horizon, and what space they had they used well.
Edwards is an older player, but guards can age well, and he was the most talented player on the market at that position. Etienne isn't enough of a playmaker to be a dominant three-down back, but he's an excellent 1A in a committee, bringing a well-rounded skill set. Elliss is a uniquely good blitzer who will give defensive coordinator Brandon Staley a useful curveball as an off-ball/on-ball hybrid. The Saints gave out only three significant contracts, but I like all three."
ESPN applauds Saints for solid offseason moves
Solak did have another section on what he didn't like about NOLA's offseason but we'll focus on the positive here. It's hard not to like what Loomis has done this spring, giving Shough help offensively but also adding some help on the defensive side of the ball as well.
Perhaps the one glaring issue is that Cameron Jordan is still unsigned and letting him leave New Orleans would be downright depressing. Hopefully, a deal can get done there because it'd be beyond weird to see Jordan wearing an NFL jersey that isn't black and gold.
Otherwise, the Saints have done a nice job bulking up their roster and it's nice to see them getting the recognition they deserve. Hopefully it turns into a successful 2026 season.