The New Orleans Saints are finally stepping out of the shadow of the "kick the can" era. If you’ve followed this team for the last decade, you know the drill: find a way to get under the cap by five minutes before the deadline, sign a few aging veterans, and pray for a Wild Card spot. But the New Orleans Saints latest news and rumors hitting the wire this January feel fundamentally different.
For the first time in what feels like forever, there is a sense of structural clarity. Derek Carr has retired. That sentence alone carries enough weight to shift the entire trajectory of the franchise. It’s not just about the quarterback change; it’s about the "golden parachute" his retirement provided for the team's salary cap. Mickey Loomis, a man who has spent years performing financial gymnastics, suddenly has a much cleaner balance sheet.
The Tyler Shough Era is Officially Here
We saw it down the stretch. Tyler Shough isn't just a bridge quarterback anymore. He took the reins in late 2025 and looked like the real deal under head coach Kellen Moore. Moore, fresh off a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles before taking the Saints job, has built an offense that actually emphasizes Shough’s vertical arm strength.
Honestly, the kid has some "it" factor. He’s mobile enough to keep defenses honest and, more importantly, he’s protected the ball in a way Saints fans haven't seen since the early Brees days. The rumors circulating around Airline Drive suggest the front office is fully committed to building around him rather than looking for a veteran replacement in free agency.
But a quarterback is only as good as the guys catching the ball. Chris Olave is coming off a Second Team All-Pro nod, which is incredible considering he dealt with a blood clot in his lung late in the season. He's fine now, thankfully. He wants an extension, and he should get it. You don't let a cornerstone like that walk.
✨ Don't miss: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
Will the "Old Guard" Stay or Go?
This is the emotional part. Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis. They are the heartbeat of the defense, but both are staring 37 in the face. Their contracts are voiding.
Rumors suggest Davis wants to return for 2026. He still plays like he’s 25, so that’s a no-brainer. Cam Jordan is a tougher conversation. He’s a legend, but the production has naturally dipped. If they bring him back, it’ll likely be on a heavily reduced "legacy" deal that allows him to rotate with Chase Young, who the Saints are reportedly looking to restructure and keep.
And then there’s Taysom Hill. The human Swiss Army Knife is 35. Does Moore still have a use for a 230-pound quarterback/tight end/fullback? The vibe in the building is that Hill’s leadership is worth the roster spot, even if his snap count continues to dwindle.
Solving the 2026 Salary Cap Puzzle
Pundits love to say the Saints are in "cap hell." It's a cliché. However, the reality heading into the 2026 league year is that they are roughly $19 million to $27 million over the limit.
🔗 Read more: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
"Being a midpoint of $24 million over the limit is light work for Mickey Loomis and cap guru Khai Harley," notes Ross Jackson of Louisiana Sports.
Compared to previous years where they were $100 million in the hole, this is basically a rounding error for them. The plan to get "in the black" is already leaking:
- Extend Chris Olave (saves $8-9 million).
- Restructure Chase Young (saves $10.8 million).
- Restructure Juwan Johnson (saves $6.2 million).
By doing just those three things, they aren't just compliant; they are ready to shop. They have eyes on Green Bay wide receiver Romeo Doubs. He just had a monster playoff game against the Bears, and with Green Bay facing their own coaching questions, Doubs could be the perfect #2 opposite Olave. He’s got the hands and the route-running that Kellen Moore loves.
The Draft: Picking at Number 8
The Saints are sitting in the 8th overall spot for the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s a prime position. The big rumor right now? They are looking at the defensive line or a dynamic wideout.
💡 You might also like: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has been mocking Carnell Tate (Ohio State) and Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) to the Saints. Adding Tate would give the Saints an "Ohio State South" vibe again, pairing him with Olave. But don't sleep on the defensive line. Peter Woods from Clemson is a name that keeps popping up. The Saints need to get younger on the interior, especially if they plan on phasing out the older veterans.
What Needs to Happen Next
The Saints can't afford to be passive. While the NFC South is wide open, the Falcons and Panthers are both improving. To stay ahead, the front office needs to execute on a few key fronts:
- Lock up the secondary: Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry are the future. Taylor is up for an extension, and rumors indicate the Saints want to "pay that man" before his price tag explodes even further.
- Bolster the O-Line: They’ve already signed some reserve/future guys like Easton Kilty, but they need a starter-grade guard. Keep an eye on Ed Ingram in free agency. Bringing the former LSU Tiger back to Louisiana would satisfy both a roster need and the local fanbase.
- Define the Running Back Room: Alvin Kamara isn't getting any younger. While he’s still elite in space, the Saints need a "hammer." Rico Dowdle has been whispered as a potential free-agent target to take some of the between-the-tackles punishment off Kamara.
The 2026 season isn't a "rebuild" in the traditional sense. It's a "retool" with a much higher ceiling. For the first time in years, the Saints have the quarterback, the coach, and—miraculously—the cap space to actually make a run.
Actionable Next Steps:
Keep a close watch on the Senior Bowl on January 31. Saints associate head coach Joel Thomas is coaching the American Team. If he spends extra time with certain running backs or wideouts, that's a dead giveaway for who the Saints are eyeing in the mid-rounds of the draft. Additionally, look for the official paperwork on the Olave extension by early March; that will be the signal that the "buying" season has officially begun in New Orleans.