Tyler Shough, the rookie quarterback, started nine games and finished with 2,384 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, along with six interceptions. He notably improved down the stretch, highlighted by a 333-yard, two-TD performance against the Tennessee Titans on December 28.
Analysts see Shough as a potential answer at quarterback, but the bigger task for New Orleans is surrounding him with playmakers. As The Athletic’s Mike Jones pointed out, the Saints will need to draft and develop talent around Shough to maximize his upside.
The NFC South was never a dominant division this season, with the Carolina Panthers winning the crown at 8-9. That relatively weak landscape gives the Saints a plausible pathway back into playoff contention in 2026, especially if a couple of wins swing their way next fall.
Offensively, New Orleans needs a major upgrade. The team ranked 10th in passing with 4,027 yards but managed only 19 passing touchdowns. On the ground, the Saints were 29th with 1,603 rushing yards and just nine rushing TDs. With the league’s 8th overall pick, adding a capable running back appears high on the priority list, complementing Kamara’s 471 rushing yards and the 404 rushing yards combined by Devin Neal and Audric Estime.
Moving forward, the focus will be on building around Shough and leveraging the 2026 NFL Draft to inject playmaking depth. If the Saints can develop the young quarterback and add targeted talent, a return to the postseason could become a realistic objective in 2026.
