By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints are set to see some exciting changes on the offensive side of the football with new head coach Kellen Moore in the building.
The run game is expected to see the biggest boost, and with a strong run game comes the potential for an explosive passing offense. Top wideouts Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandon Cooks will be the immediate benefactors of the shifts, but another young receiver is already making waves along with the established players.
Second-year wideout Bub Means has been impressing in OTAs and minicamps, ramping up for a potential breakout season in 2025.
A speedy receiver with a physical play style, Means could be the missing piece to the position group. At 6-foot-2 and 200-plus pounds, he is one of the team’s biggest receivers. His contributions to the run game as a blocker in addition to his growth as a route-runner will give him the chance to challenge for a much larger role in 2025 after being limited by injury last year.
Rattler to Bub Means. Both of their first TD’s pic.twitter.com/MqVkjiur7c
— Saints Film Room (@SaintsFilmRoom) October 13, 2024
With just three established options ahead of him for now, Means has an opened door ahead of him to run through. He’ll have to compete and win out against other receivers like veteran Cedrick Wilson Jr., UFL star Kevin Austin Jr. and others.
But the opportunity is there for him. In his seven game appearances last year, he averaged 13.1 receiving yards per catch and caught a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which began a strong three-game stretch for the wideout.
He’ll now look to hold on to that momentum, despite missing the rest of the season with an ankle injury and setback going into this year. It’s early, but he’s off to a strong start.
