Tyler Shough is the Saints’ unquestioned starter heading into 2026. The quarterback, in only his second season, is also the team’s leader. Shough organized an outing with teammates in San Diego. He has said Drew Brees helped set up the outing, and Shough’s social media photos and video on Wednesday show the Hall of Fame quarterback. Shough’s teammates Juwan Johnson, Chris Olave, Travis Etienne, Bryce Lance, Barion Brown, Audric Estime and Noah Fant are among those in Shough’s post , per Katherine Terrell of ESPN. In his rookie season, the second-round pick went 5-4 as a starter and completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,384 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions
Johnson remains the Saints' top tight end after New Orleans added Noah Fant in free agency and third-round rookie Oscar Delp in the 2026 NFL Draft, Luke Johnson of NOLA.com reports. Johnson restructured his deal with the Saints in March to free up cap space and is coming off a career year, but the team's offseason investment at tight end gives him more target competition entering 2026. Fant represents another proven receiving option, while Delp's athleticism could make him an upgrade over departees Jack Stoll and Foster Moreau. New Orleans also added a first-round wideout in rookie Jordyn Tyson (undisclosed). While Johnson's role in the passing game is secure, and the Saints could deploy more multi-TE looks in 2026, matching last year's volume will likely be a tough ask
New Orleans Saints rookie tight end Oscar Delp is back to participating in team drills after recovering from a hamstring injury. He has been a frequent target in recent practices and is competing for snaps with Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant. The Saints view Delp as a promising part of their future
First-round picks are penciled in as starters in almost every case, but opportunities to compete are not as concrete beyond the initial round. There were 39 non-first-round picks who played at least 300 snaps in the NFC last season, according to TruMedia, including Saints quarterback Tyler Shough and Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori . One consideration is the team's quality. Lower-quality teams will provide more opportunities for young players to compete because, in theory, their rosters should not be as talented. For example, Arizona had four players who met the criteria and that team finished 3-14. Who will those contributors be this year? After surveying depth charts and taking into account each player's strengths and weaknesses, CBSSports.com has devised a list of ten prospects who should earn roles for the upcoming season. The offensive line had been a priority for the Cardinals heading into the draft, but they could not turn down the talent of Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall. The team's need for linemen would have to wait until later in the event. Bisontis heard his name called early on Day 2, and the franchise rewarded him with the first fully guaranteed contract given to a second-round pick. He is penciled in as the starter at right guard opposite Isaac Seumalo . New Orleans has a few veterans at the tight end position -- Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant -- but Delp has a well-rounded skill set and can grow on the same timeline as quarterback Tyler Shough. Johnson had 77 receptions and nearly 900 receiving yards last season, but will turn 30-years-old as the 2026 season kicks off. It is easy to envision Delp receiving more opportunities as the season progresses. Additionally, the Saints utilized two-plus tight ends on the sixth-lowest rate (23.9%) in 2025, per TruMedia. However, Kellen Moore's Chargers and Eagles offenses the prior two years ranked in the top half of the league in usage rate. New Orleans did draft a few wide receivers, so the team's tight end usage may not skyrocket to the top of the league, but one might wager it will move closer to the mean (33.2%). Admittedly, I was not as high on Fields as the consensus, but there are a few factors working in his favor to see the field early. First, Malik Nabers is expected to be ready for Week 1, but is returning from a serious injury, and Wan'Dale Robinson is no longer on this roster. The organization bolstered the room with veterans like Darnell Mooney , Calvin Austin and Odell Beckham Jr . Second, Fields' strengths complement the roster and offensive system. He is a bigger body that can win at the catch point down the field, but is also willing to engage and seal as a blocker in space; a vital assignment in a physical Harbaugh system. Minnesota had a hole at the off-ball linebacker position and Golday is a big, fast and aggressive prospect for Brian Flores' defense. A Flores defense is going to be able to attack from all angles and one of Golday's most endearing qualities is his ability to rush the passer. In 2025, he had a 25.4% pressure rate on 71 pass rush snaps, according to TruMedia. Washington has three edge rushers on the roster with a combined 20 years of experience. Dorance Armstrong has become a physical run defender. Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson have shown growth in that regard over the course of their own careers after being profiled as twitchier players in the draft. The latter two finished among the top-35 in pressure rate among players with at least 200 pass rush snaps in 2025, per TruMedia. Josephs is not going to begin his career as an every-down player, but his presence can be felt on passing downs. Last season, he produced pressure on 18.9% of pass rush snaps, according to TruMedia. As Washington deploys its NASCAR package (the personnel it feels can pressure the quarterback quickest), Josephs is likely to have a spot on that unit to help the defense get off the field. The Packers needed help along the defensiv
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A fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bryce Lance could have a chance to contribute to his new team immediately as a rookie. As a senior at North Dakota State in 2025, Lance showed off his big-play ability by hauling in 51 receptions for 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 92 yards and an additional score on four carries. Lance also turned heads at the Draft Combine by running a 4.34-second 40-yard dash. Given the presence of wideouts Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson, as well as tight end Juwan Johnson in New Orleans, Lance may have a tough time carving out a high-volume role in the Saints' passing game. However, he could slide into the team's downfield role as a replacement for former Saints wideout Rashid Shaheed, who recorded 44 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns across nine games before New Orleans traded him to the Seattle Seahawks at the 2025 trade deadline. In dynasty formats, Lance's upside may currently be undervalued heading into 2026
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson had the most productive season of his career in 2025, recording 77 receptions for 889 yards and three touchdowns on 102 targets across 17 games. The 29-year-old's 102 targets were good for second on the team behind only star wide receiver Chris Olave. While New Orleans signed veteran tight end Noah Fant in free agency, Johnson should function as the Saints' lead receiver at the position once again in 2026. Additionally, the outlook for New Orleans' pass game overall is trending up after quarterback Tyler Shough's emergence as a capable signal-caller down the back half of 2025. Johnson may not offer fantasy managers explosive upside, but he should provide a safe production floor, especially in PPR-scoring formats. Johnson's short-term dynasty value is rising after his solid year in 2025
