Previously, I wrote about how running back Alvin Kamara was snubbed from CBS' Pete Prisco's top 100 players list. However, what makes that list more interesting is the fact that the list had no Saints' players to be found at all.
It shows that the Saints are not held in very high esteem around the league, but with the team coming off of a season that saw the offense rank in the bottom 10 in both passing yards (3,488) and points scored (338), I guess there shouldn't be much surprise. Additionally, the defense was top 10 in most passing yards (4,055) and rushing yards allowed (2,404).
While there may be some players people closer to the team view highly, such as Erik McCoy and Demario Davis, those players didn't make enough of an impact for Prisco to put them among the league's best.
Saints' coaching turnover
Beyond just rankings, the lack of premier players can be seen in the new faces in the coaching staff. The performances of those two units resulted in a massive coaching staff turnover. Dennis Allen, the former head coach, is now in Chicago after being unable to finish the season and was relieved of his duties midway through the 2024 season. Klint Kubiak, the former offensive coordinator, is now in Seattle, while Joe Woods, the former defensive coordinator, has left for Vegas.
Kellen Moore, who was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia last year, was hired as the Saints head coach following the Eagles victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. He previously served as quarterbacks coach in Dallas, then as their offensive coordinator, and as offensive coordinator in Los Angeles with the Chargers. Moore is also a former NFL quarterback who served as the backup in Detroit and Dallas for six seasons.
New Orleans would also bring on Doug Nussemeier was with Moore in both Dallas, LA, and Philadelphia as their offensive coordinator. He himself is also a former NFL quarterback, having spent five years (NO 1994-97, DEN 1998*, IND 1998, CHI 1999*) in the league as a backup before heading over to British Columbia to join the Lions of the CFL.
The asterisk (*) indicates that he was either on the team for the offseason or was only on their practice squad.
For the defense, the Saints would bring on Brandon Staley, who served as the assistant head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2024. Additionally, he served as the head coach of the Chargers from 2021-2023. He'll be reuniting with Kellen Moore, who was his offensive coordinator in 2023.