Saints Set Sights on 2026 Supremacy After Productive Offseason

New Orleans, LA—Speaking to reporters at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on the eve of training camp, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis radiated quiet confidence about a roster that has already undergone significant retooling. With the 2026 NFL Draft less than nine months away, New Orleans believes it has positioned itself as the early front-runner in the NFC South.

The club’s offseason ledger shows four headline additions: veteran guard David Edwards, explosive running back Travis Etienne Jr., linebacker Kaden Elliss—touted as the eventual successor to Demario Davis—and standout punter Ryan Wright. Those moves, Loomis indicated, are only the opening salvo.

“We like where we are compared to where we finished 2025,” Loomis said. “But we’re not done.”

The Saints currently hold eight selections in the 2026 draft, beginning with the No. 8 overall pick. Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate has emerged in internal discussions as the ideal target should he remain available. New Orleans also owns choices at 42 (second round), 73 (third), 132 and 136 (fourth), 150 and 172 (fifth), and 190 (sixth).

Remaining roster voids are clear: cornerback, the No. 2 wide receiver role, and an edge rusher to anchor the pass rush. The draft is viewed as the primary avenue to fill those gaps, yet the front office continues to monitor the veteran market. Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel, and Stefon Diggs headline available receivers, while cornerback help could come via Marshon Lattimore or Trevon Diggs. On the edge, Cameron Jordan—still unsigned—tops the wish list, with Haason Reddick, Joey Bosa, and Jadeveon Clowney also on the radar.

Loomis emphasized that the Saints’ trajectory will hinge on how effectively they finish the dual path of draft preparation and veteran recruitment. “We’ve improved,” he noted, “but April and the months after it will determine whether we’re holding a trophy next February.”