Even with all the work the New Orleans Saints did at receiver this offseason, adding Jordyn Tyson, Bryce Lance and Barion Brown, ESPN's Aaron Schatz still isn't satisfied. When Identifying the biggest need on each team, he pointed at the Saints need for an elusive slot receiver. Don't expect the Saints to patch that need, because it's doubtful they feel it's a hole that needs to be patched.
Schatz acknowledged that Brown has the traits to check this box, but his mind was set on a more veteran presence. Outside of Brown, the other two receivers are 6-foot-2 or taller. Chris Olave is 6 feet even but doesn't necessarily fit the archetype Schatz is looking for.
The Saints completely overhauled the receiver room, so it's doubtful to see the Saints in the market to bring a veteran in at this point. More important than having an elusive slot player, the Saints brought in the traits needed for a quality room that checks all the boxes.
Saints don't need the elusive slot WR
Schatz is correct yet misguided. The Saints don’t have an elusive slot receiver on the team, but that’s purposeful. They could have picked one in the fourth round but opted to pick Bryce Lance. If the Saints wanted a player that fit that prototype, picking a second receiver in the draft would’ve been the time to do it. At this point, it’s safe to say they didn’t see the role as mandatory.
The choice can be likened to the Saints choosing to operate without a veteran quarterback in 2025. They rolled out a quarterback room of Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler with Jake Haener as the veteran in Year 3. Typically, you’d want to surround two young quarterbacks vying for the starting role with a veteran with years of experience, think Tyrod Taylor.
Moore and company banked on the former quarterbacks on the coaching staff. That goes completely against the norm, but it worked. While the mold of grabbing an elusive slot receiver makes a lot of sense, the Saints have proven they’re willing to use unconventional methods to roster construction.
While they may not have a player who fits the archetype, Olave, Tyson and Vele can all line up inside. In many ways, the versatility of being able to deploy weapons all over the field has its advantages over having a specialist on the inside.
Tyson gives the Saints some run after the catch ability and so does Brown, if the Saints use him on offense. In general, the focus should be more focused on run after the catch than being elusive. That's just one way accomplish the goal. Archetypes aside, Juwan Johnson's production last year showed the best source of YAC is how Shough's ball placement sets up run after catch opportunities.
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