Here on CSC, throughout the regular season, the writers provide bold predictions for each New Orleans Saints game. It’s always a fun activity to see if we can correctly guess some of the craziness of the NFL. So, I wanted to attempt just that, but this time, what will happen during the Saints’ season?
Chase Young will not lead the Saints in sacks
Starting off hot, let’s talk about the Saints’ top defensive lineman, Chase Young. Last season, even after having a career year, Young did not end up as the team’s sack leader. That title went to franchise legend Cam Jordan, who had .5 more sacks.
For 2026, the path to being the Saints’ sack leader is wide open for Young. Jordan is likely going to be in a diminished role, and really, nobody else on the defensive line jumps out as a threat to Young. But I still think Young won’t get it done. This does not mean the season will be bad for Young, but defenses will give him a lot of attention. We could see another high-pressure, low-sack season from the veteran.
Oscar Delp leads the TE group in receiving yards
For the next bold prediction, let’s go to the offense. The Saints’ TE room is the best it’s been for a long time, and Juwan Johnson has become a very underrated player. He makes mistakes, but when it’s good, Johnson can be an extremely important piece for the offense. But again, it’s been inconsistent, and that’s where I think Oscar Delp steps up.
At Georgia, Delp’s production was not good, but that was not his fault. His usage was weird, and he was labeled as a player likely to be better in the NFL. Delp is a dangerous, reviving threat, and I truly believe he will force himself onto the field and make it very difficult for Kellen Moore not to use him as much as possible.
Jonas Sanker will become the franchise solidified slot CB
After the draft, one of the main questions remaining for the Saints roster was the slot position. The team was unable to draft or sign someone to take over that role, and someone needed to step up. It was widely rumored that the Saints wanted to use a safety there, and after signing Julian Blackmon, Jonas Sanker was moved to that spot.
Based on what we saw from Sanker last season, the disappointing moments came when offenses went deep. There were miscommunications that really hurt the Saints, but when he played closer to the line, it was excellent. He is arguably the best tackler among the DBs and has proved he can defend TEs at a high level. It may take time, but Sanker has a real chance to solidify the slot spot moving forward.
