The New Orleans Saints haven't reached the postseason in five seasons, but a return to the playoffs -- and sustained success -- looks like it's not far off.
That's due in large part to the team's ability to rebuild quality depth over the last two seasons, as Saints Super Bowl champion and new Georgia football color analyst Jonathan Stinchcomb broke down on WWL Radio this week. That's also coincided with the addition of Tyler Shough, who sure looks to be the quarterback of the future as he heads in Year 2.
"I think before Kellen [Moore] even walked through the door, you looked at it, you realized for a couple years I think, from my perspective, that New Orleans thought they were closer than they probably were to being at that elite level," Stinchcomb said. "And injuries had a lot to do with it. ... You could field the pretty good, pretty solid, competitive first string, but as guys got hurt, there just wasn’t the depth that some of the better teams had out there and especially during [Dennis Allen's] tenure, as we started racking up injuries, you didn’t have the depth, there was such dropoff between the starter and the next guy that it showed how lean the cupboards had become for stockpiling talent."
Hear the full interview with Jonathan Stinchcomb in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
That point was shown pretty clearly in the results. The Saints went 9-8 in Allen's second season, but the rollercoaster ride to that point was anything but a success story and it required wins of 4 of the season's final 5 games. The Saints missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker. The next season's dropoff was even more dramatic. The Saints dominated the Panthers and Cowboys by a margin of 91-29 over the first two weeks and had the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles on the ropes, but then a slew of injuries hit. The loss to the Eagles kicked off a 7-game skid that ultimately saw Allen fired and kickstarted the new coaching era that has the Saints headed into the 2026 season with much higher external optimism.
The Saints have also, whether by design or simply circumstance, invested more heavily in draft volume. Over the past two seasons they've made 17 total selections and didn't trade up, which they had done at least once in each of the prior 12 drafts. Of those 17 picks, 11 were made in the top four rounds. The prior two years saw the Saints make just 7 such picks. Just as importantly, the Saints seem to have hit on draft picks. Aside from Shough, the Saints saw significant action in starting roles from LT Kelvin Banks, S Jonas Sanker, CB Quincy Riley and RB Devin Neal, while LB Danny Stutsman saw significant work in a rotational role.
There's similar optimism for this year's rookie class, headlined by WR Jordyn Tyson, along with a big-name free agency haul that included G David Edwards, RB Travis Etienne and LB Kaden Elliss.
"I think now you’re looking at a roster that you’re going, OK, I see where the growth is," Stinchcomb continued, "I see where opportunity is and there is reason for optimism to think that they’re pointed in the right direction and are starting to put pieces in place that will make them competitive.”
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MORE FROM STINCHCOMB
- ON DT CHRISTEN MILLER
“That’s the first thing that I’m looking for, if I want a defensive tackle he’s got to be able to stop the run and the more he can add in the pass rush game, the better, and I think … that’s who Christen is. Christen is a player who is physical in the run game, has powerful hands, made a lot of tackles for Georgia against the run this year and flashed at times in the passing game.
"I remember when Bresee came out of Clemson and how he had that explosive first step and it was pass rush first and they were gonna improve his run defense. I think Christen is kind of set up in the opposite form of, I expect him to be very physical and a factor in the run game early on and be able to develop his skillset as a pass-rusher. I do think he’s got the abilities and some of the traits that you’re looking for to be a better pass-rusher, but I think what defines him at this point and why you drafted him is that he’s a physical player with a high upside that plays the run really well.”
- ON TE OSCAR DELP
“It’s untapped potential and I don’t think it’s his fault. You look at how he was used this past year, he was one of the more effective blockers. If anything Georgia’s offensive line went through some growing pains early in the year and so they relied on a 6th blocker in the lineup and many times that was Oscar Delp and because he was so effective as that edge blocker in Georgia’s system, I don’t think it availed the opportunities to highlight his skillset because he is an adept pass-catcher.
"Really, you look back to 2024 and some of the plays that he made down the field, I think that highlights what the Saints are hoping they can pull out of him as that dual-threat option where, if he’s lined up in-line he can be effective and help running backs get to the edge, but also be a threat down the field, which is something that you didn’t see a lot of on film this past year, but when given the opportunities he is one of those players, having watched him throughout his career, that is capable, the numbers just didn’t reflect it.”
- ON OG JEREMIAH WRIGHT
“When you draft a guy in the third round you obviously like his skillset, but you’re hoping that it’s not a Day 1 starter because really that’s more of an indictment of the guys you already have in-house. Having seen Jeremiah play some this season, we were looking at Auburn film, talented guy, big body. ... He plays heavy but doesn’t have heavy feet, which, for those out there he can anchor well against the bull rush and some of those bigger defensive tackles, but he also can get out in space and move and that’s what you like about him and hope that it translates well.
"I think part of the thing is you’re building an offense now that Tyler Shough is the man and you recognize what you have in hand there, trying to build around him and make sure that you keep him safe and give him the weapons that he needs to be successful.”
