ClutchPoints
Star player Cameron Jordan is returning to the New Orleans Saints on a one-year, incentive-based deal, ensuring that one of the franchise’s greatest defensive players remains in New Orleans for another season. This move provides the Saints with leadership, depth, and a familiar presence as Kellen Moore works to build the team back toward contention.
Chris Olave’s status is also something to monitor after he remained limited during offseason workouts. Moore mentioned that Olave is still ramping up and is not yet participating in team drills, which highlights the focus on the Saints’ revamped offensive depth heading into 2026.
The New Orleans Saints find themselves in a unique but intriguing position, as they are neither a finished product nor a complete teardown. After years of pushing money forward and patching up gaps to squeeze one final competitive season out of an aging core, New Orleans now feels like a team with a clearer future.
So, the Saints already understand Jordan’s impact on the locker room, and they know what Olave can achieve when healthy and realize that established names like Alvin Kamara and Demario Davis still hold value. However, the 2026 season cannot solely depend on familiar players holding everything together.
Two players stand out as underrated breakout candidates whose development aligns with the team’s needs: one has the potential to change field position immediately and can earn more offensive snaps, while the other can provide Moore with another young target in a tight end room that requires more than steady veterans.
Although Barion Brown was drafted in the sixth round, his path to making an immediate impact as a rookie is clearer than his draft position might suggest. The Saints selected Brown with the No. 190 pick out of LSU, and his team profile emphasizes why he stands out among typical late-round receivers. He was one of the most dangerous return specialists in the country, finishing his college career with six kickoff return touchdowns and setting an SEC record for career kickoff return yardage.
New Orleans needs explosive plays wherever possible, and with a young offense led by Shough, they require short fields, hidden yards, and momentum-changing plays that can shift the energy of a game before the offense even takes a snap. Brown offers the Saints the opportunity to create those moments without needing him to become a polished NFL receiver overnight, and the key with him is that his breakout may not begin with 60 receptions.
A realistic first step for him is excelling in special teams. In today’s NFL, the return game has regained significance, and players capable of flipping field position hold more value than in previous years. Brown’s speed, vision, and acceleration provide him with a genuine chance to become one of the Saints’ most important non-starters.
While fans may not discuss returners in the same way they talk about No. 1 receivers, coaches absolutely understand the importance of a player who can gain 20 or 30 yards in a...
