There was talk about making the playoffs for the New Orleans Saints for the first two weeks. Some folks even mentioned 2009 vibes based on how stout the offense had looked to start the season. The Saints had dropped 40 points in back-to-back matchups against the Carolina Panthers (Week 1) and the Dallas Cowboys (Week 2). But in Week 3, all hope that the Saints had for any sustaining momentum came to an abrupt halt. Starting center Erik McCoy would exit the Week 3 matchup versus the Philadelphia Eagles with a groin injury that required him to be placed on the injured reserve list. After McCoy left the game, the Saints’ potent attack that dropped over 40 points in back-to-back contests became a shell of itself. New Orleans would lose to Philadelphia 15-12 and drop their next six games afterward.
From that point forward, the Saints never recovered. What once looked like a balanced and explosive offense unraveled behind a patchwork line that couldn’t consistently protect Derek Carr or establish a rhythm in the run game. Carr battled through lingering shoulder issues, and without McCoy’s steadying presence in the middle, timing and efficiency collapsed. New Orleans limped through the fall, piling up frustrating close losses mixed with the occasional blowout. By December, any talk of contention had long since evaporated. The Saints finished the year at 5-12, defined not by the promise of September but by a midseason spiral that exposed a roster short on depth and direction.
Offensive Preview: Kellen Moore’s First Test
The Saints enter 2025 with a new architect at the helm, and for the first time in years, there’s genuine intrigue about what this offense might look like. Kellen Moore’s track record as a coordinator — from Dak Prescott’s high-volume passing in Dallas to Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run — suggests he’s more capable of tailoring schemes to talent. Now he has to do it with a roster in transition.
The quarterback situation is at the heart of it all. With Derek Carr’s retirement, the franchise turned to the draft, selecting Tyler Shough while keeping Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener on the roster through the summer. Rattler eventually won the QB1 job, but not without scrutiny. His flashes of accuracy and decision-making in camp were tempered by inconsistency, while Shough’s arm strength hinted at long-term upside. The battle was fierce, and though Rattler opens as the starter, Moore’s system will need to support him with rhythm throws, tempo, and a strong ground game.
That’s where the backfield rotation becomes critical. Alvin Kamara is still the centerpiece, though his touches may be monitored more carefully at age 30. Behind him, Kendre Miller and rookie Devin Neal offer youth and burst, while Velus Jones Jr. brings gadget-play speed. Moore has leaned into multiple-back sets in camp, suggesting a heavier emphasis on balance than in recent years.
At wide receiver, Chris Olave remains the WR1, a technician with 1,100-yard potential, while Rashid Shaheed stretches the field as one of the league’s fastest deep threats. The return of Brandin Cooks adds a steady veteran who can still threaten vertically, and training camp revealed Mason Tipton as a surprise riser into the rotation. This group doesn’t have overwhelming size, but it has quick-strike ability.
Up front, the offensive line was a liability in 2024, ranking 28th in third-down conversion rate and struggling to hold protections once McCoy went down. The front office attacked that issue aggressively, drafting Kelvin Banks Jr. to man left tackle and sliding Trevor Penning inside to guard. Cesar Ruiz and Taliese Fuaga round out the right side, while McCoy’s health is paramount. The late addition of Luke Fortner as insurance gives Moore some flexibility if injuries strike again, though the group must prove it can protect Rattler and generate push in the run game.
If there’s one theme, it’s that Moore inherits an offense with tools — Kamara, Olave, Shaheed — but no proven conductor at quarterback. How quickly this group adapts to his tempo-driven system will dictate whether the Saints rise above their 24th-ranked scoring output from a year ago.
Defensive Preview: Staley’s Blueprint in Motion
While the offense is Moore’s domain, the defense is Brandon Staley’s canvas, and the front office backed him with several strategic moves. The Saints ranked 30th in yards allowed per game last season, and much of the offseason work centered on fixing the run defense that surrendered nearly 4.9 yards per carry.
The splash addition was Davon Godchaux, a 330-pound nose tackle acquired via trade. His presence alone shifts the interior’s dynamic, allowing Bryan Bresee more freedom to attack as a penetrator while Nathan Shepherd rotates between end and tackle in Staley’s 3-4 base. Vernon Broughton, the rookie third-round pick, is expected to work steadily while Cam Jordan and Chase Young anchor the edges. Jordan is winding down his legendary career, but Young’s re-signing gives the team a potential game-changer if he stays healthy.
At linebacker, Demario Davis remains the heartbeat at 36, still productive and vocal, while Pete Werner’s athleticism complements him in space. The team also added rookie Danny Stutsman, a physical presence who could carve out snaps early, especially in sub-packages.
The secondary is where questions linger. Paulson Adebo’s departure and last year’s Marshon Lattimore trade stripped away two starting corners, leaving Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor as the projected starters. A second-year pro, McKinstry has shown flashes of lockdown potential, but he will be tested immediately in a division with receivers like Mike Evans and Drake London. Isaac Yiadom provides depth, while rookie Quincy Riley may see situational snaps.
At safety, the retirement of Tyrann Mathieu could have left a void, but the Saints acted quickly, signing Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon. Reid offers range and leadership, while Blackmon brings vision and ball skills that already popped in camp. Jonas Sanker, the rookie out of Virginia, rounds out a safety group that suddenly looks deeper and more dynamic.
Statistically, the defense was uneven last season — top 12 in points per play allowed, but bottom five in yards allowed per game. That reflected a unit bent too often but tightened in the red zone. With upgrades up front and a restructured secondary, Staley’s scheme aims for disruption. The early returns in preseason hinted at a group capable of stuffing runs and generating pressure, though consistency will be the deciding factor.
Projected Outlook
At this point, it’s hard to view the New Orleans Saints as a playoff team in 2025. The pieces around Spencer Rattler are solid enough to build optimism, but the uncertainty at quarterback casts too large a shadow over the season’s potential. Rattler may grow into the role and surprise people, but asking a young passer to stabilize a franchise in transition is a tall order.
The supporting cast is respectable — Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and a fortified offensive line can keep the Saints competitive weekly. On defense, veterans like Demario Davis and Justin Reid provide leadership, while newcomers like Davon Godchaux and Kool-Aid McKinstry strengthen areas that desperately need attention.
Still, the issue isn’t the quality of the starting lineup; it’s the depth. Once you look beyond the core, the roster gets thin quickly, especially if injuries hit as hard as they did a season ago.
That reality lowers the ceiling. At best, this team feels like a 5-to-7 win group, one that may not contend in the NFC South but could still be pesky and steal games.
The more important goal for 2025 isn’t the win column — it’s growth. Developing Rattler under Kellen Moore’s system, seeing which young players emerge, and building an identity on both sides of the ball will matter far more than the record by January. If the Saints come out of this season with clarity at quarterback and a foundation of contributors, it’ll be a success, no matter how many games end up in the loss column.
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