The New Orleans Saints roster has had a bunch of additions over the last few months, all of them worthwhile. However, some still don't think they're the best team in the NFC South.
Sayre Bedinger of NFL Spin Zone said that the pieces still need to come together for the Saints. "I actually fought myself a little bit here to put the Saints in the #2 overall spot. I want to put them in the #1 spot," Bedinger wrote. "I really like what they've done with this roster in short order, rebuilding and reloading on both sides of the ball with just a lot of really smart additions... this roster looks really fun on paper going into the 2026 season."
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got the top spot on his list. However, the roster that the Saints have can't be ignored. Compared to what it was a few months ago, it's almost like night and day. This is especially true when you consider the offense.
In the second offseason under Kellen Moore, the Saints have transformed the offense
A few months ago the Saints' offense lacked an elite interior offensive lineman, a wide receiver to stand next to Chris Olave, and a running back to take the load off of Alvin Kamara. Although, as winter turned to spring, they would add all of those. Some of them even more than once.
The move to start them all was the signing of guard David Edwards. One of the best at his position last season for the Buffalo Bills, he only allowed three sacks through 1,035 snaps. In turn, many teams besides the Saints wanted him, including his old team. However, New Orleans won out. That 2027 cap space is already coming in handy.
They then signed running back Travis Etienne. A 2021 first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, he has reached 1,000 yards in each of his three full seasons. In his five-year NFL career, the only times Etienne hasn't played a full season were his rookie year (lisfranc tear, out for the year) and in 2024 (hamstring, two games missed).
Tight end Noah Fant then capped off the free agent flurry. A veteran who should be a valuable depth piece, he's someone that the Saints have been wanting for a while. Especially his new teammate Juwan Johnson, who was his biggest fan last year when he came to workout for the team. "He can add so much,” Johnson said to the media. “One, he can add a lot of explosiveness to the offense, and I’d be extremely excited to have him here.”
Then of course, the draft. There, New Orleans added five more offensive players, including three wide receivers. One of them has to be the WR2 next year, and it's most likely going to be their first-round pick, Jordyn Tyson. Back-to-back first-team all Big 12, his ability to make contested catches is insane. If it wasn't for his hamstring injury, the Saints likely wouldn't get the chance to select him at eight. Fans also shouldn't have to worry about him being injury-prone, because Tyson already has a Kamara-like regimen.
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