Taking the next step from one season to the next is always a core focus over an NFL offseason. The New Orleans Saints are looking to emphatically do so in 2026.
One of the ways the team can achieve a sizable leap in the upcoming season is to boost its turnover production. In 2025, the Saints generated 20 total turnovers. Not bad, not great, the team finished T-No. 15 in the NFL and would like to find its way to more dominant showings this year.
Players Making A Difference
In addition to his discussions with us about the upcoming direction of the defense, defensive passing game coordinator Terry Joseph identified a player that could be a major contributor in this area, safety Julian Blackmon.
“Getting Julian back has been tremendous for us,” Joseph said. “He’s got tremendous ball skills and can really patrol the deep part of the field. Which, we want to get the ball turned over more in the deep part of the field.”
While Blackmon will be one of the players most immediately in place to impact these numbers, but interceptions aren’t the only way to force turnovers. Forcing fumbles hasn’t been an issue for the Saints, nor has taking over possession when the opportunity presents itself. But doing so less than a handful of times more in 2026 could make a world of difference.
The Saints forced 11 fumbles last year on defense, recovering 10 of them. The team ranked No. 15 in fumbles forced, but it was the seventh-hightest total with a number of teams all tied ahead of New Orleans at a variety of totals. The 10 recoveries ranked No. 2, following only behind the Minnesota Vikings with 12.
All Hands On Deck
Secondary play will likely have the greatest impact on upping the turnover numbers, but as Joseph highlights, it’s a collective ambition for the entire defense.
“When you just look at the teams that made the playoffs, they take the ball away, and so we have to improve in that category,” he said. “That’s a three level problem, right? We’ve got to be better up front, got to be better linebacker, definitely got to be better in the secondary, and as a defense, we’ve got to get more turnovers. Because the way the game is played now, that can really change the outcome of games.”
It will take a full-team effort, as Joseph stressed, from the defense in order to achieve this goal. More pressure on opposing quarterbacks will force them to speed up their clocks, get off of their spots or make errant throws while being pursued, allowing the second and third levels to capitalize on those opportunities. Meanwhile, those second and third levels will need to be prepared to rise to those playmaking moments.
Similarly, if that pressure gets home, forcing fumbles at the quarterback is a quick way to change the result of a game. Look no further than defensive end Chase Young’s snatch-and-run touchdown against the Tennessee Titans last year for evidence.
Turnovers Lead To Postseason Play
Nine of the 14 teams to make the postseason last year generated more turnovers than the Saints. One team, the Buffalo Bills generated the same amount of takeaways as the Saints (20) and only four clubs created less and made it through.
Ironically, two of the teams to make it to the postseason generating fewer turnovers than New Orleans were the No. 1 seeds in each conference, the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, but nonetheless, it’s easy to see that creating more turnovers is likely to help the Saints achieve their goal of making it back to the playoffs.
If the Saints can get this done and produce takeaways at an accelerated rate, and do so consistently, it could be a game-changer for the club who is chasing its chance to get back to postseason play.
