The New Orleans Saints aren't expected to do much this season by many people. Coming off a 5-12 record and fourth year without a playoff appearance, the Saints hired a new coach in Kellen Moore and will have several new faces in key places this year.
New Orleans still has talent. Alvin Kamara, Demario Davis, and Erik McCoy are still among the NFL's best players at their positions. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are an explosive tandem of wideouts, with DT Bryan Bresee, OT Taliese Fuaga, and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry rapidly rising young players.
One of the many reasons for the Saints struggles in recent years has been their inability to establish a young core of talent. As the core of their team aged, draft failures caused New Orleans to be a thin and aging squad.
This was reflected was reflected in an article by Pro Football Focus (PFF) last week. PFF listed their top NFL players under the age of 25. Not one New Orleans Saints player made their list.
Normally, PFF lists and rankings have glaring oversights and ridiculous omissions. However, it's tough to put up a valid argument for the Saints in this case. Not counting this year's rookie class and wide receiver Chris Olave, who turns 25 next month, here are the top Saints players under 25 years old.
Bryan Bresee, DT (age 23)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is sacked by New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (90). Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is sacked by New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (90). Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
In his second NFL season, Bresee led the Saints in 2024 with 7.5 sacks. He added 19 pressures, 14 QB hits, and 7 tackles for loss among his 25 total stops. He'll need to improve his run defense, but Bresee has become a disruptive interior force for New Orleans.
A first-round choice in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Saints out of Clemson, Bresee looks like a cornerstone for the Saints defense. Over his two years he has 12 sacks, 23 QB hits, 14 tackles for loss, and 32 pressures.
At 6'5" and 305-Lbs., Bresee also has the quickness to potentially play defensive end in new coordinator Brandon Staley's 3-4 base scheme. Additionally, he still has the power and strength to play over the center in passing situations. Expect Bresee to be one of the pieces that Staley rebuilds a unit that ranked 30th overall a year ago.
Taliese Fuaga, OT (23)
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga (75) against the Arizona Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga (75) against the Arizona Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Saints followed up the first round selection of Bresee in 2023 by picking Fuaga in the first round of the 2024 draft. As a rookie, Fuaga started every game and appeared in 98% of the Saints offensive snaps.
A right tackle at Oregon State, Fuaga made a successful transition to left tackle. A strong argument can be made that he was the Saints most consistently effective blocker last season.
Fuaga may make the move back to his collegiate position of right tackle with the team's first-round selection of Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Whichever tackle spot Fuaga mans, he's flashed the look of a perennial Pro Bowler and is a key building block to new coach Kellen Moore's offensive line.
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB (22)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (14) breaks up a pass for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88). Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (14) breaks up a pass for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88). Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
A somewhat surprising second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Alabama, it was thought that McKinstry was a luxury pick that would play a bigger role in future years. Instead, injuries thrust him into a more prominent role.
McKinstry played in 15 contests and made nine starts, including the last seven of the year. He appeared in 65% of the defensive snaps, which much higher totals to come. As a rookie, McKinstry broke up 6 passes, had 2 tackles for loss among his 42 total stops, and allowed just 54.8% completion percentage when targeted.
McKinstry will be an unquestioned starter for the Saints this season. Following the departures of Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, it will be McKinstry who will draw the Saints top secondary assignments in man coverage duties. After a very promising rookie campaign, he looks more than up to the task.
Names to Watch
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (16) catches a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (16) catches a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
• Bub Means, WR (24)
• Spencer Rattler, QB (24)
• Jaylan Ford, LB (23)
• Kendre Miller, RB (23)
Means was coming along nicely as a rookie until sidelined by injury at midseason. He could be the intermediate possession receiver that the Saints lacked last year, perhaps indicative by the fact that New Orleans did not address this through either free agency or the draft.
Rattler went 0-6 as a starter in his rookie season with little around him. He flashed some promise, but will have to beat out second-round rookie Tyler Shough just to be the starter this year.
Miller has been a massive source of frustration. He's flashed talent, but has also missed 20 of a possible 34 games because of injuries. Miller is a potential breakout candidate but is also very much on the roster bubble with a new coaching staff.
If Means is a breakout candidate on offense, than Ford may be the same on the defensive side. The third of three 2024 fifth-round picks that included Rattler and Means, Ford was slowed much of his rookie year with injuries. It's also telling how highly the Saints thought of him because they still kept him on the active roster all year rather than subject him to other teams on the practice squad.
Frankly, Bryan Bresee and Taliese Fuaga both probably deserved spots on this year's PFF under-25 rankings. For the Saints to turn around recent fortunes, they'll need continued progress from Bresee, Fuaga, and McKinstry along with rapid development from this year's rookie class and other recent draft choices.