Another year, another series of hypotheticals. After a two-week heater to begin the 2024 season, the New Orleans Saints fell apart, finishing with just five wins. Now, with an absurdly huge cap hit on the way, the team might be tempted to hit a reset.
So far, their offseason has pointed in that direction, as it’s been solid throughout. But the team needs more offensive firepower to complement its rebuild. As a result, one analyst has the perfect name in mind.
New Orleans Saints Predicted To Boost Offense
Last year, New Orleans finished with one of the 10 worst offenses in the league, per PFSN’s Offense+ metric. That included their electric start to the year. An injury to Derek Carr certainly played a factor, but the team’s skill-position guys weren’t consistent enough.
Not a single receiver had more than 400 yards, especially after the injuries to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Juwan Johnson, instead, led the team in receiving yards. Even still, the number was a paltry 548 yards.
Simply put, the team needs more offensive firepower, and the latest mock draft from PFSN agrees. Breaking down New Orleans, Ben Rolfe wrote, “The New Orleans Saints have had a solid offseason so far, but one area they have not really addressed is their offensive skill positions.”
As a result, he believes the team needs a true weapon to elevate the offensive ceiling of the unit. “Bringing back Juwan Johnson and signing Brandin Cooks are smart moves but do not suddenly take this offense up a gear. With questions about Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed’s long-term future, adding another playmaker at wide receiver needs to be a priority.”
And the man for the job? Tetairoa McMillan. A junior out of Arizona, McMillan has long been seen as arguably the best wide receiver prospect in this year’s NFL Draft. In his final two seasons with the Wildcats, he tallied 2,721 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding another eight in his first year.
“Tetairoa McMillan is the most versatile of the projected first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft,” Rolfe gushed. “He can line up all over the field and succeed in several roles, whether on the outside, in the slot, over the middle of the field, or in the red zone.”
While the team needs to figure out what it wants to do in its short- and long-term future, the Saints should have clarity on one thing. “Regardless of whether Shaheed and Olave are in New Orleans long-term, McMillan is a fantastic addition who will help this offense,” Rolfe concludes.
McMillan is a potential franchise cornerstone that they shouldn’t pass up on.