Every year in the NFL, there are teams that make us sit back and say, “Wow, they were much better than I expected.” Last season we saw teams like the Patriots and Broncos exceed expectations, while the Panthers surprised plenty of people themselves and even gave the Rams serious trouble in the playoffs. Who would have expected that before the season started? That’s the beauty of the NFL. Every year somebody comes out of nowhere, a young quarterback develops faster than expected or a team simply puts everything together at the right time.
This year, I believe that team will be the New Orleans Saints.
I’m going to keep my biggest reason very simple: I think Tyler Shough can play.
Tyler Shough Showed Me Enough
Shough didn’t enter his rookie season with anywhere near the hype surrounding some young quarterbacks, but once he got his opportunity, he showed exactly why Saints fans should be excited about his future. Shough appeared in 11 games and started nine, completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, finishing with a 91.3 passer rating. He also added 186 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
But the season totals don’t tell the whole story. The Saints started last year 2–10 before eventually finishing 6–11, winning four of their final five games. Shough became increasingly comfortable as the season progressed. In December alone, he completed 71.1% of his passes for 1,057 yards with four touchdowns and just one interception, posting a 102.9 passer rating.
That’s what I’m looking at. Now give Shough another offseason, another year working with Kellen Moore, and an offense that’s been built more around him, and I’m buying the improvement.
Chris Olave Finally Got a Chance to Show Who He Is
Then there’s Chris Olave. I’ve been high on Olave since his Ohio State days, and last season we finally got to see what he could do once the quarterback situation started stabilizing.
For years, it felt like Olave was being asked to make something happen while medicine balls were being thrown in his direction. With Shough, there finally appeared to be something New Orleans could actually build around. Olave gives Shough a legitimate No. 1 receiver and somebody defenses have to respect every single week.
And yes, I drafted Olave in fantasy last year, so maybe I’m enjoying this development a little more than everyone else.
Jordyn Tyson Gives Them Another Weapon
New Orleans didn’t stop there. The Saints used the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Jordyn Tyson, giving Shough another potentially explosive receiver alongside Olave.
Tyson unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury during training camp and could miss the beginning of the season. Obviously, that’s disappointing, but I’m looking at the entire season, not just September. If Tyson returns healthy, suddenly Shough has another young weapon defenses have to account for.
New Orleans also added Travis Etienne Jr. this offseason, giving the offense another proven weapon out of the backfield. That’s particularly important with Alvin Kamara expected to miss time because of his knee injury. The injuries aren’t ideal, but this roster has more offensive depth than it did a year ago.
Don’t Forget About Chase Young
And we can’t forget about Chase Young on defense. Last season reminded everyone just how disruptive the former No. 2 overall pick can be when he’s on the field. Despite playing only 12 games, Young recorded a career-high 10 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles, giving New Orleans a legitimate threat coming off the edge.
The Saints clearly liked what they saw and rewarded Young with a contract extension, keeping an important piece of their defense in New Orleans. Another season removed from the injuries that disrupted the earlier years of his career will only help, and after putting up 10 sacks in just 12 games last year, there’s plenty of reason to believe he can build on that performance in 2026.
A healthy and confident Chase Young coming off the edge makes this Saints team even more interesting.
Look at That Schedule
Now we get to the part that really has me interested.
The Saints enter 2026 with the second-easiest strength of schedule in the NFL based on their opponents’ records from last season.
That’s huge.
I’m not sitting here predicting New Orleans to suddenly become the most talented team in football. I’m looking at a young quarterback I believe in, a coaching staff entering Year 2, an improving group of offensive weapons, a dangerous pass rusher on the other side of the ball and then looking at the schedule they’re being handed.
That schedule screams opportunity.
There will obviously be games they aren’t expected to win. There will probably be a couple they should win and somehow lose because that’s the NFL. But when I look across the entire schedule, getting to 10 wins does not look crazy to me.
Don’t Forget How Last Season Ended
This is another reason I’m willing to plant my flag on New Orleans.
The Saints were 2–10. They could have completely packed it in. Their season was effectively finished and nobody would have been surprised if they limped through December waiting for the offseason.
Instead, they won four of their final five games.
That matters to me. It showed that Moore still had the locker room competing and, more importantly, that the team began finding something once Shough settled into the quarterback position. Now they aren’t starting from zero. They’re trying to continue what they began building at the end of last season.
I’m Calling My Shot
Could I be completely wrong? Of course. That’s why we play the games. There are always injuries, unexpected developments and young players who don’t progress exactly how we expect.
But predictions aren’t interesting if we wait until everybody already knows the answer.
So I’m calling mine now.
The New Orleans Saints will be one of the surprise teams of the 2026 NFL season.
I believe Tyler Shough takes another step. I believe another year under Kellen Moore helps this offense. I believe Chris Olave continues showing why he was so highly regarded coming out of Ohio State. I believe Jordyn Tyson gives them another weapon once he’s healthy, and I believe another season removed from injuries can help Chase Young continue what he started last year.
And most importantly, I look at that schedule and see wins available.
I’m not predicting six. I’m not predicting seven.
I think the New Orleans Saints can win 10 or more games this season.
Maybe everyone else will be surprised.
I won’t be.
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