New Orleans is a weird place to play football. One day you’re the hero of the French Quarter, and the next, you’re just another name on a waiver wire because the cap space is tighter than a drum. As we stare down the 2026 offseason, the New Orleans Saints wide receiver room is a mix of high-end star power and a whole lot of "who is that?"
Chris Olave is the guy. Obviously. But after him? It’s basically a jigsaw puzzle where half the pieces are still in the box.
If you’re looking at the saints receiver depth chart and expecting a settled veteran group, you haven’t been paying attention to how Mickey Loomis and this front office have been operating lately. They are lean. They are young. And honestly, they’re betting a massive amount of their 2026 success on a rookie quarterback and a bunch of receivers most fans couldn't pick out of a lineup.
The WR1 Reality: Chris Olave is the Entire Engine
Let’s be real. Without Chris Olave, this offense would probably be stuck in second gear. He just wrapped up a 2025 season that honestly deserved more national attention. We're talking about a second-team AP All-Pro nod.
He didn't just play well; he dominated. Olave hauled in 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. Those are "pay the man" numbers. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal (though the fifth-year option is a lock), and he is the only solidified, blue-chip weapon on the outside.
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What’s interesting is how he finished the year. When Tyler Shough—the rookie who looks like he’s claimed the starting QB job for 2026—took over, Olave actually got better. Over the final three games of 2025, they were completely in sync. Four touchdowns in three games? That's the kind of chemistry that keeps offensive coordinators from losing their hair.
The Supporting Cast: Sorting Through the Names
Behind Olave, it gets a bit murky. The depth chart currently lists Kevin Austin Jr. and Dante Pettis as the primary names you’ll see on the field.
Pettis has been a journeyman, but he found a weirdly comfortable niche in New Orleans. He’s reliable on special teams and can run a decent route in a pinch. Is he a long-term WR2? Probably not. But for now, he’s the veteran presence in a room that is shockingly young.
The Developmental Names
- Kevin Austin Jr.: He’s shown flashes. The Saints seem to like his size and physicality. He’s currently sitting in that "First Team" slot on the unofficial charts, but he has to prove he can do it for 17 games.
- Bub Means: This is the heartbreaker. Means was supposed to be the "big slot" or the vertical threat the team missed. Then, a brutal lower-leg injury in the 2025 preseason sidelined him for the entire year. He’s still under contract and the team is high on him, but coming off a year of rehab, he’s a total wildcard for 2026.
- Samori Toure & Ronnie Bell: These guys are the grinders. They’re the "Second Team" depth. They've spent time on and off the active roster, and while they won't blow you away with 4.3 speed, they know the playbook.
The CFL Wildcard and Future Contracts
New Orleans loves a good "reserve/future" contract story. Enter Damien Alford.
The Saints recently signed Alford, who was actually the first overall pick in the 2025 CFL Draft. He’s 6-foot-6. You can’t teach that. He spent 2025 with the Calgary Stampeders, averaging over 20 yards per catch.
Will he make the final 53-man roster? Who knows. But he’s exactly the type of low-risk, high-reward body the Saints need to throw at the wall to see if it sticks. If he can translate that CFL production to the NFL, he provides a massive target for Shough that the current roster lacks.
Why the Draft is the Real Solution
Here is what most people get wrong about the saints receiver depth chart: they think it’s finished. It isn’t.
New Orleans is sitting with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. You don't have to be a scout to see that Olave needs a running mate. The names floating around right now are Carnell Tate from Ohio State and Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State.
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If the Saints go receiver in the first round—especially another Buckeye like Tate—it completely reshuffles the hierarchy. Suddenly, Kevin Austin Jr. moves to a depth role, and the Saints actually have a duo that scares defensive coordinators.
The cap situation is always a factor, but rookie contracts are cheap. Expect the Saints to be aggressive here. They can’t afford to let Olave get double-teamed on every single snap because nobody else can win a one-on-one.
Current Roster Outlook
Honestly, the depth is thin. We saw Cedrick Wilson Jr. basically fade out and eventually land in Miami after failing to stick in NOLA. That tells you the Saints aren't keeping guys just for the sake of having veterans. They want "their" guys.
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Right now, the roster looks like this:
- Chris Olave (The Star)
- Kevin Austin Jr. (The Prospect)
- Dante Pettis (The Vet/Returner)
- Bub Means (The Injury Returnee)
- Samori Toure / Ronnie Bell (The Depth)
- Damien Alford (The Dark Horse)
Actionable Insights for Saints Fans
The receiver room you see in January is not the one you’ll see in September. If you're tracking this group, keep an eye on these specific moves:
- Watch the Senior Bowl: The Saints staff is heavily involved this year. If they fall in love with a mid-round receiver there, expect them to jump.
- Bub Means' Rehab: If he isn't 100% by OTAs, the Saints will almost certainly sign a veteran "camp leg" receiver to compete for that WR3/4 spot.
- The No. 8 Pick: If New Orleans passes on a receiver in the first round, it means they have immense faith in Kevin Austin Jr. or a healthy Bub Means. If they take a WR, the competition for the final roster spots will be a bloodbath.
The bottom line is that the Saints have the top-end talent in Olave, but the floor of this group is currently very low. They need one more consistent playmaker to keep the offense from becoming one-dimensional. Between the draft and the return of injured young players, the next four months will define whether Tyler Shough has the weapons he needs to actually succeed in Year 2.