​The New Orleans Saints spent the offseason shaping their roster around Tyler Shough, who is poised to enter his second year as the club’s starting quarterback. Recent national attention suggests that effort is beginning to pay off, with The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen listing the Saints among five offenses expected to breakout as the 2026 season approaches. Nguyen praised New Orleans for quietly constructing a potent attack through strategic drafting, noting the selection of two talented tackles to protect Shough: Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle this year and Taliese Fuaga at right tackle in 2024.
Shough remains the cornerstone of the Saints’ offense. The 2025 second-round pick turned in a strong rookie campaign, finishing second in NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting after helping New Orleans win four of its last five games. While another year under Kellen Moore’s system should foster more development, enhanced protection could be even more crucial. New Orleans ranked 29th in pass-block win rate last season, and Shough himself faced significant pressure, ranking 41st among qualifying quarterbacks in pressure-to-sack rate. Nguyen emphasized that with Banks growing into his role and Edwards providing interior stability, the line should better keep Shough clean—an essential factor if he is to reach a higher tier of quarterback play. If the Saints can shield him effectively, Shough could unlock production comparable to a tier 2 quarterback.
In addition to the draft success, the Saints added David Edwards, whom Nguyen regarded as the best interior free-agent guard available, to bolster the interior line. Edwards joins Banks and Fuaga in a unit that has the potential to elevate both pass protection and run blocking. On the receiving side, Arizona State product Jordyn Tyson—selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft—was brought into a corps led by Chris Olave. Tyson carries the upside of a true No. 1 receiver, though his health will need monitoring after a hamstring injury limited his participation during organized team activities.
Nguyen summed up the assessment: the Saints’ talent pool is solid rather than flashy. If the offensive line can reach its ceiling, New Orleans could make a substantial leap. There isn’t a single superstar at every position, but the Saints have assembled a deep, capable supporting cast without obvious weaknesses. The true test will be Shough’s continued development and the line’s performance; those factors will ultimately determine whether the team can translate potential into productive, NFL-caliber output.
This analysis originally appeared on Saints Wire, with The Athletic identifying the Saints as one of five offenses poised for a breakout.