2025 NFL Yearbook: New Orleans Saints

A season preview of the New Orleans Saints.

All Access Football NFL Yearbook Series Counts you down to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game with an in-depth look at 32 organizations in 32 days. Presented by the Official 2026 NFL Draft Bible.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Howard Balzer, Dominic Ambrose and Jarrett Reigel contributed to this report] || [Some information also appears in the Lindy’s NFL & College Football Season Preview Guides. — Obtain these must-have magazines here]

2025 NFL YEARBOOK: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

NFC SOUTH || 2024 RECORD: 5-12 || AAF NFL POWER RANKING: 32

TEAM BRASS

Owner: Gayle Benson || General Manager: Mickey Loomis || Head Coach: Kellen Moore || Offensive Coordinator: Doug Nussmeier || Defensive Coordinator: Brandon Staley || Special Teams: Phil Galiano

REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

2025 NFLPA GRADES || OVERALL RANKINGS (12 of 32)

Treatment of Facilities: C (22nd) || Food / Dining Area: D- (31st) || Nutritionist / Dietician: B+ (12th) || Locker Room: A- (9th) || Training Room: B+ (10th) || Training Staff: B+ (10th) || Weight Room: B+ (13th) || Strength Coaches: A (10th) || Team Travel: A (5th) || Head Coach: B- (29th) || Ownership: A (10th)

The Saints rank 12th, scoring above average in most facility and staff-related categories. Their lowest-rated area is the cafeteria but significant improvement is expected next year, as the team completed construction on a new cafeteria in December. Another area of concern players identify is the position of head coach. The team moved on from Dennis Allen midway through the season and players hope new head coach Kellen Moore will bring positive change.

OVERVIEW

Buckle up and hunker down Saints fans, it could be a long season in ‘The Big Easy.’ The organization has been ravaged by bad luck, starting with the offseason retirement of Derek Carr due to injury. Alvin Kamara has sustained at a high level but will be 30 years old and no one has stepped up to fill the void left by Michael Thomas. New Orleans had little money to spend in free agency and this could be a year where aforementioned coach Moore looks to gut the roster, weed out players who don’t fit and begin laying the foundation for next year. The second round selection of Tyler Shough (photo: New Orleans Saints) now becomes their most critical draft choice, as he will enter training camp as the favorite to win the starting quarterback role.

OFFENSE RANKINGS

Total Offense: 320.1 (21st) || Passing: 205.2 (23rd) || Rushing: 114.9 (15th) || Points: 19.9 (24th) || Sacked: 37 (13th) || 3rd Down: 35.2% (28th)

DEFENSE RANKINGS

Total Defense: 379.9 (30th) || Passing: 238.5 (28th) || Rushing: 141.4 (30th) || Points Allowed: 23.4 (18th) || Sacks: 39 (T-18th) || Turnover Differential: -2 (T-16th)

TOP 10 FRANCHISE PLAYERS

1. Chris Olave, Wide Receiver

2. Demario Davis, Linebacker

3. Eric McCoy, Center

4. Tyrann Mathieu, Safety

5. Alvin Kamara, Running Back

6. Bryan Bresee, Defensive Tackle

7. Cameron Jordan, Defensive End

8. Justin Reid, Safety

9. Alontae Taylor, Cornerback

10. JT Gray, Safety (Gunner)

TOP 10 PLAYERS UNDER 25

1. Chris Olave, Wide Receiver (24)

2. Kelvin Banks Jr., Offensive Tackle (21)

3. Taliese Fuaga, Offensive Tackle (23)

4. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cornerback (22)

5. Spencer Rattler, Quarterback (24)

6. Vernon Broughton, Defensive Tackle (23)

7. Bub Means, Wide Receiver (24)

8. Kendre Miller, Running Back (23)

9. Devin Neal, Running Back (21)

10. Quincy Riley, Cornerback (23)

BUST OUT PLAYERS

A fresh change of coaches should breathe new life into enigmatic running back Kendre Miller, who was in the doghouse for much of last season. An electric runner when healthy, Miller has been riddled by injuries during his first two seasons. With Alvin Kamara now entering his 30’s, expect New Orleans to lean on Miller more both in the run game and as a returner … On the opposite side of the ball, the Saints anticipate a bust out campaign for defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (photo: New Orleans Saints). He made great strides during his second season, setting career-highs across the board, while demonstrating the ability to provide pressure in the backfield with 19 quarterback pressures and one blocked field goal. A trip to the Pro Bowl could be in store for Bresee in ‘25 … While the numbers didn’t always show up in the boxscore, second round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry showed enough to earn nine starts a year ago, showcasing his ability to hang with top wideouts. He enters year two as an assumed starter and looks to pour it on, as one of the core building blocks on a revamped defense.

2025 NFL DRAFT CLASS

ROUND | PICK | TEAM | PLAYER | POSITION | SCHOOL

Rd.1 No.9. Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas — New head coach Kellen Moore understands the importance of investing in the trenches having won a Super Bowl with Philadelphia. With Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga the Saints now have bookend tackles they can bank on.

Rd.2 No.40. Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville — With the sudden retirement of Derek Carr, the college journeyman Shough suddenly finds himself in a quarterback competition for the starting job. Will it be time for the ‘Shough and Duck Era’ in New Orleans?

Rd.3 No.71. Vernon Broughton, DT, Texas — A medical recall to Indianapolis dampened the draft stock of Broughton who brings, size, experience and the ability to pressure the quarterback. He should factor as a key rotational player.

Rd.3 No.93. Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia — An aggressive, physical safety whose size, speed, leadership and tenacious style provides the Saints with a skill-set that is similar to that of Brian Branch (Lions). Look for Sanker to play multiple spots.

Rd.4 No.112. Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma — How can you not like the size, pedigree and production that Stutsman adds. However, there was an alarming amount of missed tackles that showed up on film, so he’ll need to firm that up.

Rd.4 No.131. Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville — With fluid footwork, natural instincts and the versatility to play any position in the secondary, Riley could start off in a utility role and eventually compete for a starting job.

Rd.6 No.184. Devin Neal, RB, Kansas — The Saints employ a stable of backs who have been known to miss time due to injury, so injecting the fresh, young legs of Neal into the backfield mix was a smart late round investment.

Rd.7. No.248. Moliki Matavao, TE, UCLA — A big-bodied tight end, Matavao enters a crowded tight end room but Moore does like to employ multiple tight end sets, so a practice squad spot is attainable.

OVERALL IMPACT = 4 High Impact

ADDITIONS

• C Will Clapp (1/1; FA; $1.422.5M/1 yr, $167,500 SB/$1.197.5 2025 cap)

• WR Brandin Cooks (10/9; UFA Cowboys; $13M/2 yrs, $7.75M gtd/$4.8M SB/$3.154M 2025 cap)

• RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (2/0; FA; $1.17M/1 yr, no gtd, $1.03 2025 cap)

• DT Davon Godchaux (17/17; trade Patriots)

• RB Velus Jones Jr. (3/0; not tendered as RFA by Panthers; $1.15M/1 yr, no gtd/$1.15M 2025 cap)

• T Dillon Radunz (15/15; UFA Titans; $2.25M gtd/1 yr/$810K SB/$2.25M 2025 cap)

• S Justin Reid (16/16; UFA Chiefs; $31.5M/3 yrs, $22.25M gtd/$11.5M SB/$3.8M 2025 cap/4 void years)

• TE Jack Stoll (11/2; UFA Dolphins; $1.337.5M/1 yr, $67,500 SB/$1.097.5 2025 cap)

• DE Jonah Williams (9/2; UFA Lions; $1.22M/1 yr, $50K RB/no gtd/$1.03M 2025 cap)

• CB Isaac Yiadom (17/5; UFA 49ers; $9M/3 yrs, $4.86M gtd/$2.1M SB/$1.96M 2025 cap/$1.5M incentives)

RE-SIGNINGS

• S Ugo Amadi (UFA; $1.28M/1 yr, $110K SB/$1.14M 2025 cap)

• TE Juwan Johnson (potential UFA; $30.75M/3 yrs, $21.25M gtd/$11M SB/$5.245M 2025 cap/$3.75M incentives/2 void years)

• WR Dante Pettis (potential UFA; $1.17M/1 yr, no gtd/$167,500 RB/$1.1197.5 2025 cap)

• DE Chase Young (potential UFA; $51M/3 yrs, $27.17M fully gtd/$5.83M gtd injury only fully gtd 3rd day 2026 LY/$17M SB/$6.842M 2025 cap/$2M per year escalators)

• T Landon Young (UFA; $2.327.5M/1 yr, $509.5K gtd/$167,500 SB/$1.337.5M 2025 cap)

DEPARTURES

• CB Paulson Adebo (7/7; UFA Giants; $54M/3 yrs, $34.75M fully gtd/$3.75M gtd injury only fully gtd 3rd day 2026 LY/$15M SB/$11.7M 2025 cap)

• LB Willie Gay Jr. (15/8; UFA Dolphins; $1.337.5M/1yr, $1.197.5M gtd/$167,500 SB/$1.197.5M 2025 cap)

• S Will Harris (13/13; UFA Commanders; $8M/2 yrs/, $3.39M gtd/$2M SB/$2.88M 2025 cap/$1M per year incentives)

• CB Shemar Jean-Charles (9/2; UFA Seahawks; $1.295M/1 yr, $50K SB/$1.08M 2025 cap)

• G Lucas Patrick (11/10; UFA Bengals; $2.1M/1yr, $200K SB/$2M 2025 cap)

• T Ryan Ramczyk (0/0); retired)

• DE Payton Turner (16/0; UFA Cowboys; $2.5M/1 yr, $2M gtd/$600K SB/$2.47M 2025 cap/$500K incentives)

• T Olisaemeka Udoh (14/1; UFA Titans; $1.17M/1 yr, no gtd/$1.03M 2025 cap)

• WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (14/8; UFA Seahawks; $4M/1 yr, $3M gtd/$1.5M SB/$3.955M 2025 cap/$1.5M incentives)

• RB Jamaal Williams (14/1; released)

DEPTH CHART (Courtesy of Ourlads)

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