It's been five seasons since the New Orleans Saints found themselves in the playoffs, but a strong draft class has the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert bullish on seeing that change in 2026.
For that to be the case, though, the Saints will have to climb back to the top of the heap in the NFC South, a division won last year by the Carolina Panthers with a record of 8-9.
"What’s first things first, we win the NFC South, host a home playoff game, that’s a big bone to throw to the fans, and why not? Carolina Panthers won the championship last year in the NFC South, we beat ‘em twice, and we didn’t luck out, we beat them," Hebert said on WWL, also noting that he'd be betting the over on the Saints' win total this year. "
"I think we have a chance — a fighting chance," he continued.
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Such a feat would require the Saints to go from worst to first, but they look to have had the type of offseason that could make that happen. They've added key pieces to the offensive line (David Edwards) and a new star running back in Travis Etienne. They also drafted a new pass-catcher to pair with Chris Olave in Arizona State star Jordyn Tyson, and an intriguing tight end in Georgia's Oscar Delp.
Much of the offseason additions seemed geared to put the right pieces around quarterback Tyler Shough, who impressed as a rookie and seems primed to take a leap heading into Year 2. If that's the case, that win total could climb even higher.
“We think we have the right quarterback, we think Tyler Shough is the man. Well, now, put up or shut up," Hebert said. "They helped him, and it's a great opportunity for him.”
MORE FROM HEBERT
How would you grade the draft class
“I think we’re middle of the pack, but last year everyone thought we were middle of the pack and ended up because of their production being the top draft. So, to be fair, so to play both sides of the fence, I don’t know, B-minus, C-plus, so maybe a little above average. I don’t give an A. If they had got Rueben Bain Jr. or even Caleb Downs, maybe an A-minus, B-plus kind of thing, so I don’t know, it has to play out, and … the receiver, how is he gonna be judged? Who is he going to be judged against? Jordyn Tyson is going to be judged against Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain, and we’re going to see Rueben Bain twice a year against Tampa Bay.”
On Jeremiah Wright
“You can’t coach toughness and a mean streak. You can’t make somebody mean if they’re not mean. You know, I always said this, you can be an offensive lineman, you don’t have to be mean, but if you have good technique and you are mean, then you maul people. That’s one thing that I saw that one of the heaviest players in this year’s draft and … he started on the D-line as a freshman, heading into ’22 he had an ACL tear so obviously he passed the medicals. We’ve had a few people that have had to pass the medicals, so hopefully they’re not hurt in a Saints uniform, because that’s how you’re ultimately going to be judged.”
