RISING: Are the New Orleans Saints and Tyler Shough READY to SHOCK the NFC South in 2026?

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4.6 • 966 Ratings

🗓️ 21 May 2026

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

New Orleans Saints shake up the NFC South with bold offensive upgrades and a promising young core. Can Tyler Shough’s breakout rookie performance behind an overhauled offensive line—featuring Kelvin Banks, Taliese Fuaga, and newcomer David Edwards—ignite a playoff surge under Kellen Moore’s play-calling? Chris Olave, Jordan Tyson, and dynamic backfield duo Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne headline an attack poised for a leap, but depth questions at wide receiver loom large. On defense, Pete Werner and Kaden Ellis anchor a revamped linebacker unit, while Chase Young and Carl Granderson headline an edge group blending upside and reliability. The secondary boasts rising stars Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley, with Justin Reid offering veteran stability. Can Brandon Staley maximize this youth movement after top-10 marks in red zone and third-down defense last season? Favorable scheduling and improved roster depth have the Saints primed as the NFC South’s dark horse contender.

Transcript

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0:00.0	after a one in eight start in 2025 the saints finish five and three and tyler shuck flashed big time as a
0:09.3	rookie are they the dark horse in the nfc south we're exploring that right now you are locked on
0:20.3	nflicts you are locked on nfl scouting with the Draft dudes, your daily podcast for NFL and college football scouting.
0:27.3	Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day.
0:33.3	What's better than that?
0:35.1	It's guys being dudes.
0:37.4	I'm Joe Marino.
0:38.6	That's Kyle Craves.
0:40.1	On today's episode, we are breaking down the New Orleans Saints, trying to figure out
0:45.6	where the big time talent is on this roster and how they're set up to compete in
0:51.1	2026.
0:52.2	Kyle, welcome in.
0:53.2	Happy Thursday.
1:05.6	Happy Thursday to you as well as we take on the season outlook, the defensive side of the ball and the offensive side of the ball for the New Orleans Saints.
1:13.1	Our last NFC South team, we've done the NFC South this week, and New Orleans brings us home.
1:16.9	We're looking for cornerstone players and quality starters and where there are questions and concerns and depth limitations.
1:19.9	And we'll talk about that all starting now on the offensive side of the football
1:24.0	where Tyler Shuck got some new toys to play with.
1:29.3	We've got a really strong foundation of an offensive line.
1:32.4	They got a key starter added this offseason in free agency.
1:35.6	Where do you want to go first?
1:37.5	I want to go to the offensive line where this is a really, really intriguing group
	...

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