After finishing with its worst record of the 2020’s at 5-12 overall this past season, the New Orleans Saints cleaned house within its coaching ranks by adding an entirely new coaching staff.
This chosen direction left NFL analyst and many Saints fans alike anticipating a rebuild to help reshape their aging and depthless roster. Instead, the franchise has taken a different approach this offseason with an intention to be playoff contenders.
Since the start of the league’s new year, New Orleans has re-signed defensive end Chase Young and tight end Juwaun Johnson to multi-year deals. The team traded for the rights of 30-year-old defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the New England Patriots while also signing 28-year-old Kansas City Chiefs’ free safety Justin Reid to a three-year $31.5 million contract.
According to New Orleans Football. Com’s Nick Underhill, the Saints have nearly $30 million in cap space despite their big money free agency signings. This is due to restructuring the contracts of rostered players such as safety Tyrann Mathieu, middle linebacker Demario Davis, defensive end Cam Jordan, wide receiver Cedrick Wilson and even the newly acquired Godchaux.
The biggest question mark for the franchise was the status of starting quarterback Derek Carr. Since signing with New Orleans in 2023, he’s mustered just a .500 record across 27 starts with injuries and inconsistent play corrupting his tenure with the team.
With talks of the team potentially trading or cutting Carr to accelerate its rebuild, New Orleans instead converted his $30 million base salary and $10 million guaranteed roster bonus into a combined $40 million signing bonus for 2026. This move confirms that Carr will be on New Orleans roster this upcoming season.
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The conversion allows Carr to have only a $20.4 million cap hit this year, but balloons his cap hit to 69.2 million in 2026. Head Coach Kellen Moore has shown his support for Carr in recent weeks with New Orleans Football.com reporter Nick Underhill saying that Moore "took this job with the idea that Derek Carr would be his QB."
While New Orleans has yet to make the postseason in the post-Sean Payton era, the organization led by General Manager Mickey Loomis is hellbent on breaking through and being a playoff team. The path they’re taking this season is one built on adding depth and impact players with the current roster.
Although the team’s talent is mostly aging and/or highly inconsistent, the belief from within is that new coaches for both sides of the ball can turn the team’s recent fortunes around. With the NFL draft less than a month away, here are some impact rookies New Orleans should add with their first four picks that can make them genuine NFC South title contenders.
Round 1 Pick 9: OT Will Campbell, Texas Longhorns
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 16: Will Campbell #66 of the LSU Tigers blocks during the 1st half ... More of a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 16, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)Getty Images
With the Saints planning to bring Derek Carr back for at least another season, fortifying the offensive line around him needs to be a number one priority.
Campbell has been regarded as this draft’s top offensive lineman and features upside as a guard or tackle at the next level. He’s a quality athlete that can protect against speed rushers on an island while also possessing the strength to stand tall against some of the game’s best power rushing defensive lineman.
New Orleans conveniently has concerns within the interior of its offensive line and at right tackle. Campbell addresses either immediately if added to the team.
Round 2 Pick 40: CB Jahdae Barron, Texas Longhorns
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 1: Jahdae Barron #7 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates after a play ... More against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half against at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)Getty Images
New Orleans recently added Texas Longhorns defensive back coach Terry Joseph to their defensive staff as part of their coaching staff overhaul. This past season, Joseph coached arguably the Longhorn’s best defensive back in Jahdae Barron to his best season as a three-year starter.
Barron projects as a slot corner at the next level due to his frame and straightaway speed concerns. However, he clocked a 4.39 at the combine and features game tape that shows him sticking beside opposing receivers as an inside and boundary corner.
What makes Barron a potential impact player is his ball skills. The Austin, Texas, native recorded a career-high five interceptions and 11 passes defended during his senior season which earned him Consensus First-Team All-American honors.
Round 3 Pick 71: DE/DL Jordan Burch, Oregon Ducks
EUGENE, OR - SEPTEMBER 23: Oregon Ducks defensive end Jordan Burch (1) reacts to a quarterback sack ... More during a PAC-12 conference football game between the Colorado Buffaloes and Oregon Ducks on September 23, 2023 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As the Saints rebuild their defensive line to align with its new 3-4 scheme, a player of Jordan Burch’s stature presents the size, athleticism and versatility to be a problem as a three-technique defensive lineman.
Burch already has the athleticism and wingspan at his 6’4, 279-pound frame that flashes on tape. What’s even more promising is his motor which shows itself the most on pass-rushing downs.
He projects best as a pass-rushing force on the inside and outside early in his career. Once he improves as a block shedder in the run game, he’ll be an even deadlier force as a complete player.
Round 3 Pick 93: WR Eric Ayomanor, Stanford Cardinal
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 16: Stanford Cardinal WR Elic Ayomanor (13) runs into the endzome after a ... More short pass in the game between the Louisville Cardinals and Stanford Cardinal on November 16, 2024 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
New Orleans currently doesn’t feature a receiver on its roster with a frame that screams posession receiver. Cedrick Wilson is the team’s tallest wideout at 6’2, but he weighs under 200 pounds and has thrived best as a slot receiver throughout his career.
Ayomanor has showed an ability to be a slot target also, but his 6’2, 210-pound frame will do even more damage as a big-body outside target. While Stanford featured a carousel of quarterback troubles the past two seasons, Ayomanor still managed 60-plus catch seasons with at least 831 yards receiving and six touchdowns.
He’ll never be the explosive route runner or downfield threat that other receiving threats are, but Ayomanor has a steady way of getting open and high pointing the ball against tight man coverage. After his stellar 13-catch 294-yard three touchdown game versus Travis Hunter and Colorado in 2023, he’s shown the ceiling of a Michael Thomas caliber player.