The New Orleans Saints were on the outside looking in as the Bucs and Panthers battled to an 8-9 tie for the division crown this year, but they did so with glimpses of a team that could contend for a lot more down the line.
The Saints went 5-4 with rookie Tyler Shough starting at quarterback, including a four-game win streak, and Drew Brees sees no reason that positive momentum can't lead to the Saints landing back atop the NFC South in 2026.
"I think it's wide open. ... Why not the Saints?" Brees told the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert on WWL Radio.
"You continue to build through the draft with getting playmakers on offense and building the defense," Brees continued. "I think the fact that both offensively and defensively we’re going to be going into next year with guys having their second year in a system. I think that’s going to make a huge difference, just the overall confidence and comfort level."
Hear the full, exclusive interview with Drew Brees in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The expectation will be for the Bucs to keep building with Baker Mayfield and the Falcons to improve under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, albeit with a somewhat unsettled quarterback situation. But it's the Panthers that people will be watching to take another step forward after their first NFC South title since 2015. All four NFC South teams went 3-3 in division games this past season.
"You have to assume that everybody is going to get better," Brees said. "I’m sure Carolina is going to go into next year with a lot of cofidence, given the fact that they won the division this year. But at the same time we know how we stacked up against those guys thhis year, right, we beat them at their place and we beat them at our place and it was decisive."
The Saints' next opportunity to build the roster will come in free agency, and then during the 2026 draft, where they own the No. 8 overall selection and a host of mid-round picks.
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MORE FROM BREES
How important is it for the Saints QB to be active in the community?
“I think it’s important, especially in a community like ours, you know, where we have such a dedicated fanbase and I think we have such a unique relationship between players on our team and in the things that they do in the community, and I think it just resonates moreso than ever with our fans. You know, what guys are doing out and about and in the community, and we just have such a unique culture that I think fans appreciate when, you know, the players who may not have ever been exposed to, you know, all the unique culture of New Orleans are just kind of throwing themselves into it and wanting to be a part of it all.”
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What do you think this Saints team is missing?
“I think the common theme every year is did you win the close games are did you not? You know, 70 percent of NFL games end up being one possession and so the years where you’re a double-digit win team and headed to the playoffs and winning the division and making a run are the years that in the nine games that were one-possession games, you were 7-2, right, or you were 6-3 as opposed to the other way around. You know, there’s always games you look back on and say man, should’ve won that one. Hey, maybe we won one that we shouldn’t have as well, but that always seems to be, not only what gets you to double-digit wins, but I think just gives you this mindset and this belief that no matter what the situation is in a game, you can find a way to win"