Welcome to the first power rankings of the season! With zero games played, analysts can only go off their own projections, so let’s see what they think of the New Orleans Saints.
“Injuries on both sides of the ball (DT Bryan Bresee, WR Jordyn Tyson) have lowered expectations a bit for the Saints, but they could do themselves plenty of favors by competing in Detroit to start the season.”
“I was starting to believe in the Saints as a surprise playoff contender and was ready to move them atop the other pretenders in the NFC South. But the hamstring injury that will keep promising rookie WR Jordyn Tyson out until mid-October has shaken my faith.”
“For years, some fans and analysts have called on the New Orleans Saints to begin a full rebuild after five consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance.
To date, general manager Mickey Loomis has resisted that approach, and the decision is reflected in the 2026 roster.
To be fair, if Tyler Shough can build on a promising rookie season under center, the offense could make some noise—wide receiver Chris Olave is coming off his best season, and Travis Etienne Jr. should add some pop in the backfield. The defense was quietly ninth in the league in total defense in 2025.
The Saints could win a weak NFC South this season, but they are not a Super Bowl contender—and it is difficult to see a path to becoming one while they remain committed to chasing the fringes of playoff contention. — Davenport”
“This is a young team moving in the right direction. Tyler Shough impressed as a rookie, but now the challenge is to do it over the course of this season.”
