Saints Power Rankings season is in full swing, and nobody knows what to expect from the up-and-coming organization. On the one hand, Kellen Moore’s squad missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season despite playing in the NFL’s weakest division. On the other hand, the team finally escaped salary cap hell, finished the season strong, and has genuine hope for the future in Louisville’s Tyler Shough. This team has one of the widest ranges of outcomes in the upcoming season, as there’s no bigger competitive advantage than a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal, but it’s too early to say whether or not Shough is the real deal.
While Shough and the Saints have potential, it wasn’t enough for them to earn a high spot in Bleacher Report’s power rankings. New Orleans earned the 23rd spot on the list, although analyst Kristopher Knox acknowledges Shough has plenty of potential for the upcoming season.
“This year, Shough has a legitimate opportunity to become the most dangerous quarterback in the division,” Knox writes. “He has the highest physical ceiling of any signal-caller in the NFC South, and New Orleans has added weapons like Travis Etienne and Jordyn Brooks to his supporting cast…Paired with an underrated defense that ranked ninth overall last season, that could be a recipe for a playoff run.”
Saints Power Rankings: New Orleans, Tyler Shough Earn Low Spot
As mentioned above, the New Orleans Saints had a solid defense last year and are retaining most of the talent from the previous season. That side of the ball won’t single-handedly win games like the 2015 Denver Broncos, but it should be enough to support a reliable offense. The only question is whether or not the offense will be reliable.
While it’s too early to say anything with 100% confidence, the Saints should feel good about second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. While he is on the older side, the Louisville product looked like the real deal during his limited time under center. Starting in nine games while making 11 appearances, the rookie finished his inaugural season with a 5-4 record while completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 74.6 PFF grade, the 19th-best mark in the league.
By just about every metric, Tyler Shough was the best rookie quarterback in the league last year. While it’s still too early to call him a legitimate franchise quarterback, he’s the best option the team has had since Drew Brees called it a career. While the quarterback is the most important part of the equation, the Saints power rankings won’t improve without a better supporting cast.
The Supporting Cast
New Orleans already has a solid WR1 in Chris Olave. While the former first-round pick won’t make it to the Hall of Fame any time soon, he’s more than capable of being the top option in a passing attack. However, the real ceiling of this offense will come down to Arizona State’s Jorydn Tyson. The rookie has elite physical traits and has the potential to be a truly dangerous weapon in the league, but you never want to put too much pressure on someone who has yet to play an NFL snap.
Running back is far from the most important position in the league, but free-agent signee Travis Etienne should be an upgrade on the present-day version of Alvin Kamara. Kamara is unquestionably one of the greatest players in franchise history, but the former third-round pick has slowed down in recent seasons. At this stage in his career, it’s much better to have Etienne be the starter and have Kamara work in a reduced role.
Saints Power Rankings ultimately don’t mean too much, as only time will tell how good this team actually is. However, it’s a fun way to pass the time while waiting for the games to start.
Main Photo: Dale Zanine – Imagn Images
