The New Orleans Saints will begin training camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie, Louisiana, starting tomorrow.
There’s been hype surrounding this team since the end of the 2025-26 season. Long-time vets returning, a busy free agency period, a promising quarterback going into year two of his career, and more have created a newfound hope that the Who Dat Nation hasn’t felt since after Drew Brees retired.
Even with the positive vibes going around in the Crescent City, the Black and Gold have many questions to answer before they can turn everything around and become a contender in this league again.
How much of Jordyn Tyson will we get to see?
Arguably, the most exciting addition for the Saints this offseason was when they used the eighth overall pick in the draft to select Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. That’s the second-highest draft pick used to take that position in the franchise’s history. The highest was when New Orleans selected Wes Chandler with the third overall pick in 1978.
Head coach Kellen Moore and company have even described the tandem of Chris Olave and Tyson as the team having “two number one wide receivers.” The belief is also that this is the deepest and most talented wide receiver room in the team’s history.
The question about Tyson centers around his availability. The 21-year-old has dealt with a lingering hamstring injury, which caused Moore and the training staff to cautiously manage his workload during mini camp and other team activities. The slow ramp-up approach should lead to the coaches and fans seeing what the rookie can do, but the amount he will be allowed to do at the start of training camp will tell us a lot about where Tyson is with his health.
Who takes the “star” role in the secondary?
Today’s NFL defenses feature a high percentage use of nickel sets and packages, meaning teams often have a fifth or sixth player in the secondary on the field. That nickel or “star” defender has become a pivotal spot for teams, and the Saints are no different.
Over the years, New Orleans has had that spot occupied by players such as Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and, most recently, Alontae Taylor. Now they’re gone, and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is on the lookout for someone who can reliably fill that position.
There are plenty of players for the staff to choose from. Historically, the Saints have filled that position with versatile safeties, and that could be the case in 2026. Second-year player Jonas Sanker feels like the most-likely candidate. Sanker’s rookie season showed a lot of promise and has traits that match that type of player you’d want in that “star” role. It would also present Sanker more opportunities to get on the field after veteran safety Julian Blackmon re-signed with the team on another one-year deal and is projected to be a starter at that position. Sanker was previously lining up in the slot, where the “star” position often is on the field during minicamp.
Other players who have a shot at winning the job are Jordan Howden, another young veteran, who has never found a consistent role on this team after getting drafted late by the Saints in the 2023 draft. Late-round rookie Lorenzo Styles Jr is another player trying to compete for the job as he’ll try to do whatever it takes to make the team.
Can Kendre Miller prove himself?
Miller has started to become an afterthought in the backfield. A once promising rookie who was taken in the third round of that same 2023 draft as Howden now has to earn his spot in an improved running back room. The free agency signing of Travis Etienne Jr and return of Alvin Kamara make the path for the former TCU Horned Frog that much more narrow.
Injuries have plagued Miller over his three years in the NFL as he’s played in just 21 out of a possible 51 games. Not to mention, there was an entirely different coaching staff that was in charge and had a vision for Miller when he first came to town. Other young running backs such as Devin Neal and Audric Estime have shown what they can do while Miller was out.
Miller’s run style also doesn’t necessarily fit what coach Moore wants in a ball carrier. The lack of availability, pass-catching usage, scheme fit, and other factors point towards this being a major uphill climb for a once promising running back to make this roster. There’s even potential the 24-year-old doesn’t even make it through camp as he’s still recovering from his ACL tear back in October and is on the last year of his rookie contract. If the Saints were to cut him before the season, Miller’s dead cap hit would penalize the team for less than $300,000.
How much will Demario Davis be missed?
After spending eight seasons with the Black and Gold, Demario Davis decided to return to where it all began for him with the New York Jets. Davis was far and away the biggest loss for the Saints this offseason. That happened in a year when the team had only a couple of notable departures.
In an attempt to replace Davis and his production, general manager Mickey Loomis signed and brought back Kaden Elliss on a three-year deal. Elliss was a valuable asset on the field and was one of the few bright spots on defense for the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints still have Pete Werner as the other inside backer and a second-year player in Danny Stutsman who made the most of his limited snaps last season.
You may feel good about the second level of this defense and that it will still be good with Elliss back in the lineup, especially with him being six years younger than Davis, but something feels missing. Davis was named a first-team All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler in his time in New Orleans. He was recognized as one of the best at his position year in and year out when he played for the Saints. You don’t replace someone like that at the snap of a finger. The linebacker group should still be productive, but how much of a step back will they take in 2026 now that a guy like Davis no longer suits up for the team and will not be there to make up for the mistakes other parts of the defensive unit are bound to make?
Will Charlie Smyth earn the job?
The New Orleans Saints haven’t found a consistent kicker since moving on from Wil Lutz. Blake Grupe was supposed to be the successor, but was cut after two and a half seasons of mediocre kicking from the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish kicker.
The coaching staff replaced Grupe with Charlie Smyth, an Irishman who was on the team as a part of the International Player Pathway Program but didn’t count towards the roster numbers. Smyth joined the organization in 2024 and made the active roster last season, playing in the final six games. In that time, Smyth made 12/16 attempts and was perfect on PAT’s.
Despite making some clutch kicks, some of Smyth’s misses came at inopportune times, leaving coach Moore and his staff with some doubt in their minds. This offseason, the Saints decided to sign former UFL kicker Tanner Brown to create competition at that position. This season, Brown made 32/35 field goal attempts, 29/32 PATs, including playoffs, and made multiple 60+ yard kicks for the Louisville Kings.
Coach Moore’s emphasis in his short time in New Orleans has been to create as much competition as possible at every position, and kicker is no different. Smyth responded well to the competition vs Grupe last year, but he will need to outduel Brown to prove himself during camp and the preseason to earn the starting job this season.
