The New Orleans Saints made plenty of moves this offseason — but quantity didn’t equal quality. With a new head coach, a reshuffled quarterback room, and the loss of several key veterans, the roster looks dramatically different heading into 2025. And not necessarily in a good way.
New Orleans Saints Offseason Grade: No Derek Carr, No Cornerbacks — and No Clear Path Forward
PFSN gave the Saints the lowest offseason grade of any NFL team — a reflection of more departures than dependable upgrades. While the arrival of Kellen Moore brings fresh energy following his Super Bowl run as Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, questions still linger. The team lost a veteran starting quarterback, a top cornerback, and multiple key contributors on both sides of the ball. For a roster already teetering on mediocrity, those exits hit harder. Even with a few intriguing additions, there’s growing skepticism that New Orleans is better positioned to compete in the NFC South — not worse.
“It’s hard to be optimistic about their chances in 2025 after Derek Carr’s retirement,” wrote PFSN analyst Brandon Austin.
The veteran quarterback was far from elite last season, but he brought stability. Now, the Saints are banking on a competition between Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener to fill that void — and there’s no clear front-runner.
“Carr at least offered a steady floor,” Austin added. “Now you’re rolling the dice with unproven arms and hoping one sticks. That’s a risky place to be for a team trying to stay competitive.”
Tyler Shough throwing passes at practice pic.twitter.com/9EUG7PiXDm
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill)
Brandin Cooks returns to New Orleans to join a receiving group led by Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, and rookie left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. could be a long-term anchor on the offensive line. But even with those bright spots, the offense enters the season with more questions than answers. The loss of Carr looms large, and Alvin Kamara — entering his age-30 season — can’t carry the unit on his own.
Defensively, the Saints took some calculated swings. They re-signed Chase Young, traded for Davon Godchaux to help up front, and added Justin Reid at safety. Rookie linebacker Danny Stutsman could also carve out a role early. But the losses in the secondary are hard to ignore. Paulson Adebo left in free agency, and with Marshon Lattimore traded last season, the Saints are thin at corner — a concerning issue in today’s NFL.
“Reid is a nice piece, but he can’t cover for a depleted cornerback room,” Austin observed. “They’ll need young guys to step up fast or teams will pick them apart.”
Ultimately, the roster shuffle led PFSN to grade New Orleans’ offseason a D, the lowest in the NFL. The reasoning is obvious: A mix of aging veterans, unproven rookies, and uncertainty at quarterback makes for a murky outlook. While Moore could bring long-term value, this year’s roster doesn’t look equipped to compete — even in a weak NFC South.
“There’s some talent here,” Austin concluded. “But it feels like a team in limbo. And that’s a dangerous place to be in the NFL.”