Canal Street Chronicles
These Saints could breakout for New Orleans in 2025.
The 2024 season for the New Orleans Saints was disappointing, to say the least. The team was bad enough to end the season with a 5-12 record and finish last in the NFC South, but not bad enough to record a top five draft pick.
The future for the Saints now relies on their young players stepping up and breaking out. Bryan Bresee had a coming-out year in 2024 for New Orleans, recording 7.5 sacks from the interior defensive line, but the young talent for the Saints majority stayed quiet last season.
Now, in 2025, with a lot of young talent on the roster, the Saints are hoping to find their next breakout stars.
Second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is the hot name for the Saints. McKinstry has consistently received votes to be the team’s biggest breakout player next season, and it's no surprise why.
The former Alabama cornerback showed plenty of promise when he was thrown into a starting position as a rookie. While there were rookie mistakes, McKinstry showed out and made New Orleans’ decision to move on from Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo easier.
McKinstry is incredibly disciplined in coverage, keeping his pad level consistent when mirroring the receiver. Where the former second-round pick shines is his high-level football IQ. McKinstry times his plays on the ball at a high level and plays with poise, limiting penalties.
The Saints are banking on a big jump from McKinstry, and despite the pressure on the 2024 41st overall pick, the consensus believes McKinstry will have a breakout year in 2025.
Despite going into his sixth NFL season, Chase Young is still only 26 years old. The former first overall pick had a promising rookie season with the Washington Commanders, but injuries continuously plagued the 6-foot-5 defensive end’s career early.
The Saints took a shot on Young during the 2024 offseason, signing the free agent edge rusher to a one-year $12 million contract. New Orleans wanted Young to prove to them that he was worth a bigger contract, and Young accepted the challenge.
Looking at the base numbers, Young’s 5.5 sacks were relatively disappointing, and this is true. Young had a problem finishing during the season but was consistently putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The former Ohio State defensive end finished the season top 10 in QB hurries and was given a three-year $51 million contract from the Saints.
Young opportunities to rush the passer will increase significantly in 2025 under Brandon Staley’s 3-4 defense. With more opportunities, the former first overall pick is primed for a breakout.
I’ll be honest, I’m going to sound like a broken record saying 2025 is the season Juwan Johnson finally takes the next step, but I can’t help myself. It was shocking seeing the Saints bring Johnson back on a three-year $30 million contract.
But new head coach Kellen Moore was adamant about keeping the former...
