In 2025 the Carolina Panthers snuck in at the last minute and claimed the NFC South. But before that, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a stronghold on the division winning it from 2021-2024. The New Orleans Saints had a stranglehold on the division prior to that, winning from 2017-2020. After the firepower the Saints have added over the past few months during the offseason, they may find themselves as the “sleeper” pick to win the division come January.
One NFC South Team Is Quietly Building Something Dangerous
Could the New Orleans Saints Have Finally Found Their QB1?
Does anyone remember that late 2025 run with Tyler Shough?. In 11 games as a rookie, he completed 67.6 percent of his throws for 2,384 yards, 10 TDs and six picks while finishing 5-4 as a starter. Now, it’s not the splashiest of numbers, but it’s efficient and measured play from a rookie getting his feet wet. And on top of it, he put three TDs on the ground and showed that he could get away from some pressure and make it work. But for what it’s worth, everything started to actually click in his final few games. His decision making was accelerated and he did not make a ton of mistakes. If Shough can keep up with this level of consistency, he could genuinely be the long term QB options the New Orleans Saints have been looking for since Drew Brees retired.
A Two-Headed Monster That Could Wreak Havoc in the NFC South
The backfield is where things could really get interesting. Pairing Travis Etienne Jr. with Alvin Kamara gives this offense two completely different styles that can still hurt you in similar ways. Etienne is coming off a strong 2025 season where he carried the ball 260 times for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns, proving he can handle volume and still be productive. Kamara, while not putting up the same numbers last year with 471 rushing yards and one touchdown in 11 games, still brings versatility as both a runner and receiver, something defenses have struggled with for years. This is not about one replacing the other. This duo can keep each other fresh and force defenses to adjust on every series. If used correctly, the New Orleans Saints have all the makings of one of the more difficult backfields in the NFC to game plan against.
Kamara commented on the addition of Etienne who signed a four year $52 million contract with the Saints.
“I think a lot of people be thinking there’s a beef or something when moves like this happen. It’s like, shoot, I couldn’t be happier. One, my boy got paid, and two, ain’t nothing but some help in the backfield. That’s the name of the game. One person can’t do it by themselves. I’m cool with it. Whichever direction that we can take it, I’m with it. I haven’t had too much a chance to talk to him, but definitely excited that he’s got a fleur-de-lis on his helmet, and he got paid.”
Jordyn Tyson Is a Welcome Addition
The passing game continues to flow through Chris Olave, who proved last year why this is likely not changing anytime soon. Olave had 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and 9 TDs in 2025; so there is clearly a reason to throw the ball to him 15 times a game. This year however he’s not alone. Jordyn Tyson, selected 8th in the 2026 NFL Draft, finally gives this receiving corps a viable second option on the outside. While Olave will undoubtedly remain the top dog, Tyson provides speed, potential, and an additional target that defenses must take seriously. This change forces this unit to go from ‘throw it to the best player’ to ‘we have a second option we have to accounted for.’ And with a second reliable option like Tyson, the New Orleans saints may very well have just developed a very problematic passing game.
A Sleeper Worth Watching
The New Orleans Saints are one of those teams that could sneak up on people. A young quarterback who is figuring out how to run an offense in the NFL, a backfield that can hit you in different ways, and a passing game that finally has more than one real option. The Saints’ offense may not appear dominant on paper, but it does not have to in order to win the NFC South. If they catch a little momentum early, this can turn into a team nobody wants to deal with by midseason.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
