Why the Saints should lean offense in NFL Draft

By Ross Jackson

Now that we’ve made the argument for going defense-first in this NFL Draft, it’s time to take a look at why the New Orleans Saints should consider investing highly in offense instead. 

The obvious reason is to continue building around quarterback Tyler Shough. The second-year passer ignited the team’s potential and fanbase in the final nine games of the 2025 season leading the way to five wins down the stretch. He shattered franchise rookie passing records and has continued to win over the community and organization with an active offseason.  

By the end of the season, however, Shough was throwing to receivers that had been either added to the active roster from the practice squad or signed as free agents just weeks before the matchup. 

Adding more talent to the offense helps from two perspectives. It bolsters the team’s top-end talent and also helps to increase roster depth.

That way, should New Orleans suffer injuries at key offensive positions again in 2026, its depth chart may be more reliable beyond the starters.

The Saints aided themselves during the early goings of free agency by adding to their offensive line, signing an explosive running back in Travis Etienne Jr. and boosting their pass-catching potential at tight end.

In the draft, the team could look to make a splash immediately by signing big-play wide receivers like Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson or Makai Lemon.

Tyson would give the team an all-around receiver capable of doing just about anything on the football field, as long as he is able to prove his injury history is behind him. Meanwhile, players like Tate and Lemon could generate verticality and contested catch wins from different areas of the formation.

Additionally, the Saints could still look to add more talent at running back with the future of Alvin Kamara being uncertain. Whether that’s by drafting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love in the first round or swinging for another talented back like Arkansas’s Mike Washington Jr., New Orleans will have ample opportunities to keep injecting breakaway capability to its running back room.

Another reason going for offense early could still make sense for the Saints is because of the strong performance of the team’s defense to close out the 2025 season. Once the team saw defensive end Chase Young return to the lineup in Week 6, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s side of the ball soared over the final 12 games.

If the Saints believe that the defense can more easily bridge the gap of the offseason than the offense’s late surge can, then adding more talent to the offensive line makes sense.