Saints offseason acquisitions indicate offensive vision

By Ross Jackson

Exploring the elements of what has helped the New Orleans Saints’ offense rebound and what’s changed the direction of the unit led to several modern-day NFL pillars. Motion, play action, heavier personnel sets, pace and attacking the middle of the field in the passing game are all among the most modern qualities.

New Orleans has embraced a lot of these offensive tendencies, at least when available. In certain cases, implementing tools had to be done on a limited basis.

For instance, the team ran the sixth-fewest play action dropbacks in 2025, but also had the league’s No. 28 ranked rushing offense. While play action can work with a struggling run game, a productive one maximizes its impact. While there was a concerted effort to include the play action piece of the game, the circumstances of the surrounding offense kept it from being consistently available and effective.

On the other hand, the team had the No. 3 highest usage of motion in the league, quarterback Tyler Shough averaged among the most shotgun snaps per game among passers with at least 200 passing attempts and had one of the best completion percentages among starters and had the best completion percentage in the middle of the field among the same group of starters.

This offseason, the Saints’ player acquisition strategy was visibly targeted at reinforcing these modern-day NFL trends.

Motion

With the amount of motion New Orleans used in 2025, it’s clear that its inclusion will continue to be a pillar of the team’s offense this year. A way to maximize the impact of motion in an offense is by adding versatile players that can line up in multiple areas. It allows for an expansive menu of opportunities, lining up a player in one alignment, but motioning them to another before or at the snap.

Adding versatile players this offseason like tight ends Noah Fant and Oscar Delp gives the team more moveable options. Both of which will also aid the team’s apparent pursuit of heavier tight end usage. Additionally, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, helps to bolster the versatile options on the offense and therefore the mobility of the chess pieces. 

Play Action

Improving the run game has an immediate effect on the play action approach. Bolstering the offensive line with a new starter in guard David Edwards and adding developmental potential with a strong run blocker on the interior like guard Jeremiah Wright through the draft are two great ways to get started.

Of course, the addition of the most impactful position in the rushing attack, running back, goes a long way. The Saints’ signing of back Travis Etienne Jr. is one that will improve the run game, passing game and protection.

Attacking the Middle of the Field

Lastly, adding bigger-framed players should help to boost the efficiency of what has already been a success for the team, passing between the numbers. 

It felt like the Saints’ middle-of-field attack really started to take shape in the club’s Week 13 game against the Miami Dolphins. During which, the team’s in-breaking route focused passing attack began to take shape. Particularly, the contributions from wide receiver Devaughn Vele helped to establish the approach’s success.

This offseason, not only did the Saints add a player in Delp that has proven to be very effective over the middle of the field, but also North Dakota State wideout Bryce Lance. Lance’s 6-foot-3, 200-plus point build and 4.34-second 40-yard dash speed are a perfect combination of the height/weight/speed receiver prototype, often relied upon in the middle of a defense.

It’s clear that the Saints’ offseason acquisition strategy had a clear vision from a grander sense. But even a more granular look at some of the leading trends defining today’s NFL offense highlights the team’s focused and defined offseason pursuits.