Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
One of the most crowded rooms on the New Orleans Saints’ roster belongs to the team’s wide receiver group. With 11 receivers on the roster, the jostling that will take plays across the group is less about battling for the top spot, but instead competing for any spot at all.
At The Top
Wide receivers Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks are the only real locks at the position right now.
The Saints have been adamant that Olave, despite last year’s injury concerns, is set to be a part of the team’s future. That much was evidenced by the team picking up the 2022 first-rounder’s fifth-year option for 2026.
Shaheed, who should see a larger role in 2025, is the team’s most consistent option in generating explosive plays. In fact, he’s become one of the league’s most explosive big-play threats. His position atop the group is solidified.
Derek Carr’s 70-yard TD to Rashid Shaheed traveled 54.5 yards in the air, Shaheed’s 7th reception over 50 yards of air distance since the start of 2023, most in the NFL.
No other receiver has more than four.
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After receiving a two-year, $13 million deal with the Saints, Cooks is primed to reunite with Saints’ head coach Kellen Moore and will bring the team another speedy, veteran option.
Those Expected To Battle For The 53
While nothing behind those top trio of pass-catchers is for sure, there are other players that are expected to vie for a role on the 53-man roster. Mostly a group of wideouts that were with the team last year.
Bub Means, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Kevin Austin Jr., Dante Pettis and Mason Tipton are all returning for another shot with New Orleans. Each brings their own value to the table, but Means, Wilson and Pettis have been the biggest standouts of the group.
Means has already connected on some big plays during OTAs and minicamps. Wilson is reunited with Moore, who got the best out of him back in 2021 (45 receptions for 602 receiving yards and six touchdown catches), and Pettis has shown early chemistry with both battling quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough.
Last year, Tipton shined while available early on in training camp. If he can restart the flame from a year ago, he could put himself right back on the map for New Orleans.
Newcomers Bring Potential
Three new faces, aside from Cooks, are going to look to surprise and have the talent to do so.
The addition of Donovan Peoples-Jones following his rookie minicamp tryout is one of the most intriguing late-offseason additions the Saints pulled off. The 6-foot-2 receiver has managed adversity in his life admirably and now is ready to be back on the football field. With his fresh start, he’s already turned heads and is going to be a real competitor beyond veteran practice squad conversations.
Undrafted rookies Chris Tyree and Moochie Dixon bring some excitement to the table, as well. Dixon was a yards after catch threat that could turn a short gain into a big one in a hurry while at SMU. Tyree is a transitioned running back whose versatility could be a lot of fun in Moore’s offense.
Landing in the practice squad for the two rookies is the most likely path to carving out a chance. But with special teams opportunities abundant, a practice squad spot won’t come without some chances to see the field.
This will be one of the busiest and most fun positions to watch as training camp gets started in less than a month.
