Going into the bye week 2-8, this season has shown the status (most of them) of the positions on the New Orleans Saints roster. Clearly, New Orleans needs upgrades throughout its roster. With the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency in mind, what positions should the Saints prioritize?
Ranking the Saints Roster Needs
Here is the list of positional needs from most to least level of importance:
- Interior offensive line – One of the more disappointing storylines for the Saints this season has been the offensive line. Currently, New Orleans does not have a starter at LG, and RG Cesar Ruiz could be traded this offseason after his struggles. This season, per PFSN’s Player OL Impact Metric, Ruiz ranks 111th among all offensive linemen. The Saints could be looking to add two new guards.
- EDGE/OLB – This season, since coming back from injury, EDGE Chase Young has looked excellent, but besides him, the Saints are lacking another great pass rusher. Cam Jordan and Carl Granderson have been able to get some sacks this season, but most of the time, Young is the only one getting pressure.
- QB – Depending on future results and performances, this is the one position that could be removed from this list by the end of the season. In the last game against the Carolina Panthers, rookie QB Tyler Shough had an impressive performance. For the first time, a future with Shough as the starter became realistic, but for that to truly happen, the rookie will need to continue playing well. If not, the Saints could be drafting a QB in 2026.
- CB – This position was much higher on this list, closer to the beginning of the season, but the players who were less comfortable in a zone defense seem to be learning. If New Orleans had not selected rookie Quincy Riley in the 2025 NFL Draft, it could have been much worse this season.
- WR – Before the NFL Trade Deadline, WR was not as high as it is now, but the Saints sent WR Rashid Shaheed to Seattle. A hole on the roster was immediately made, and although WR Devaughn Vele could step in, getting another high-talent WR would be a great idea.
- DT – Like with the EDGE depth, New Orleans’ DT depth is in a similar spot. Bryan Bresee has had a good season, particularly with his improvement against the run, but besides maybe Nathan Shepherd, the Saints do not have any difference makers. New Orleans selected rookie DT Vernon Broughton in 2025, and he showed some flashes when playing, but an injury ended his season early.