Three Training Camp Storylines That Will Define the Saints' Ceiling

The most important narratives entering Saints training camp aren't the ones dominating headlines.

Tyler Shough's development matters. Travis Etienne matters. Chris Olave's contract matters as does Jordan Tyson's availability.

However, none of those storylines will define this season on their own.

The Saints already have enough talent to compete.

What determines their ceiling is whether the supporting pieces finally allow this roster to function in a way that matches Kellen Moore's vision.

Here are three storylines will help manifest that vision faster than anything else over the next month.

1. Could Kendre Miller Be the Key to Unlocking Alvin Kamara?

Kendre Miller's training camp isn't about surviving final cuts.

It's about completing the Saints' running back room.

Three injury-shortened seasons have pushed Miller to the background. For many, the conversation has shifted from his potential to whether he'll even make the roster.

I disagree with those sentiments.

The Saints don't need Kendre Miller to fulfill his promise in one year.

They need him to become dependable.

If he does, everything about this backfield changes.

Alvin Kamara entered the league as one of football's premier matchup weapons. Sean Payton moved him around the formation, isolated him against linebackers and consistently found ways to get him the football in space. He wasn't built to absorb twenty carries between the tackles every Sunday.

Circumstances forced him into that role.

A huge second contract opened the door for Kamara to take on more responsibility in the offenses he was a part of and the more responsibility he absorbed, the further the Saints drifted away from the version of Kamara that made him elite.

The numbers reflect that evolution.

His offensive grade has fallen from an elite 90.5 as a rookie to just 51.7 last season. His rushing grade dropped to 61.0. His receiving grade bottomed out at 39.5. His 5.6 yards per reception and 0.78 yards per route run were both career lows.

The solution isn't asking Kamara to rediscover his prime.

It's building a backfield that no longer depends on him to do everything.

That's where Miller changes the equation.

Kamara faced light boxes on 64.6 percent of his rushing attempts, the second-highest rate among qualifying running backs. The Saints as a team faced light boxes on 44.1 percent of their rushing attempts, the 10th-highest rate in the NFL. Yet Kamara still finished with -71 rushing yards over expected, the second-lowest mark in football, while forcing missed tackles on just 19.1 percent of his carries—his lowest rate since at least 2018.

Despite limited opportunities, Miller forced missed tackles on 51.9% of his rushing attempts last season—the highest rate among qualifying running backs. The explosiveness is there. The talent has never been the question.

Availability has been.

If Miller stays healthy, the Saints gain something they've lacked for years: stability around Kamara.

That stability allows Travis Etienne to handle the bulk of the traditional rushing workload. with Miller serving as a legit backup option. Miller would serve as buffer that keeps Kamara in a "playmaker" role, a role that previously made him one of the NFL's most dangerous offensive players.

Kendre Miller's biggest contribution in 2026 may not be the carries he takes.

It may be the carries Alvin Kamara never has to.

2. Can the Saints Still Play Defense the Way They Want To?

Brandon Staley's defense starts with one idea.

Stop the run without committing extra defenders to it.

Everything else grows from there.

Last season the Saints defended 44.1% of opponent rushing attempts with a light box, the tenth-highest rate in football. They still finished third in yards allowed per carry while posting one of the league's best stuff rates.

That's not a coverage statistic.

That's a personnel statistic.

Demario Davis made life easier for everyone around him and posted an elite 88.9 run defense grade, finishing with 55 defensive stops, seventh-most in the NFL. Alontae Taylor transformed the Star position into an extension of the front seven, leading all NFL cornerbacks with 33 run stops.

That's nearly 90 failed offensive plays the Saints defense has to find a way to replace.

In fact, replacing what they allowed the defense to do is even harder.

Danny Stutsman now steps into one of the most demanding jobs on the roster.

His rookie season produced a 74.5 run-defense grade and 13 run stops in just 104 run-defense snaps. More importantly, his downhill temperament fits the Mike linebacker role naturally. Pete Werner has always looked more comfortable flowing in space than consistently taking on interior blocks.

Jonas Sanker faces a similar opportunity.

Moving from deep safety into the Star role puts him closer to the football, allowing his physicality to become an asset instead of asking him to erase mistakes fifteen yards downfield. Sankers rookie year 73.6 run grade suggests that transition could maximize his strengths.

This defense doesn't need Stutsman and Sanker to become Demario Davis and Alontae Taylor.

It needs them to preserve the structure those veterans made possible.

If they do, Brandon Staley will continue to build on his defensive philosophy.

If they don't, the identity and defensive playstyle established a year ago could be in jeopardy.

3. The Saints' New Weapons Won't Matter Until the Offensive Line Delivers

The Saints spent the offseason adding weapons at the skill positions.

Travis Etienne, Bryce Lance, Noah Fant, Oscar Delp, Jordan Tyson and more.

None of them will make the impact they could if the offensive line doesn't deliver.

Moore envisions the offensive line as the engine that drives the team, so everything Kellen Moore wants to build begins up front.

The running game creates play-action. Play-action creates explosive plays. The entire offense depends on winning at the line of scrimmage.

David Edwards should stabilize left guard.

That's important.

It's also only one piece of a unit that has underperformed relative to the investment poured into it over the years.

The encouraging news is pass protection wasn't the biggest issue.

Through Week 18 Tyler Shough was pressured on just 29.6% of his drop backs last season, one of the lowest rates among qualified quarterbacks.

Run blocking was.

The Saints finished 28th in rushing yards per game and produced just 34 explosive runs all season. Too often the running backs were asked to create yards the offensive line should have created first.

That's why Travis Etienne is such an intriguing addition.

Last season he was contacted behind the line of scrimmage on only 39.3% of his rushing attempts, the sixth-lowest rate among qualifying backs. Jacksonville consistently gave him clean rushing lanes before defenders could challenge him.

New Orleans offensive line hasn't shown they can open similar lanes.

Etienne's explosiveness isn't the question.

Whether the offensive line can consistently create those same opportunities is.

We've watched dominant offensive lines revive running backs who looked like they had lost a step.

We've also watched explosive runners disappear behind units that couldn't create space.

Kellen Moore has a bunch of shiny new toys to move around his offense, but no unit will elevate this offense more than the offensive line if they can stay healthy and control the line of scrimmage

Final Thoughts

The Saints don't need one player to rescue this season.

They need the roster to work the way it was constructed.

Kendre Miller gives Alvin Kamara the freedom to become a weapon instead of a necessity.

Danny Stutsman and Jonas Sanker will play a huge role whether Brandon Staley can continue playing the aggressive, light-box defense that defines his system.

The offensive line ultimately decides whether every new addition on offense becomes a difference-maker or another talented player fighting through traffic behind the line of scrimmage.

Those are the storylines I'll be watching.

Because they won't just determine who wins roster spots.

They'll determine what kind of football team the Saints become.

Saints Mandatory Minicamp: Key Takeaways from Kellen Moore's Press Conference

The Saints are still teaching.

That may sound obvious in June, but it matters because it explains nearly every answer Moore gave during his press conference ahead of mandatory minicamp.

While fans are looking for depth-chart battles and breakout candidates, the coaching staff is still focused on installation, assignments, and building habits.

Moore emphasized that OTAs have been about learning and volume, but mandatory minicamp will be more situational football with an expectation that players retain what they've been taught over the last several weeks.

In other words, the Saints aren't evaluating finished products yet.

They're evaluating who can handle more.

Tyler Shough Is Earning More Responsibility

One of the more interesting moments from the press conference involved

Tyler Shough.

Moore highlighted a play where the defense presented a look that wasn't ideal for the original call. Shough recognized it, checked out of the play, and got the offense into something better, firing up the offensive line.

That's not a throwaway comment.

Young quarterbacks don't earn freedom. They earn trust.

The fact Moore chose that example tells you a lot about where Shough is in his development. The Saints are gradually putting more on his plate because he's showing he can handle it.

Moore agreed with a comment from Travis Etienne that Shough appears further along than a typical second-year player.

Again, not surprising.

Shough isn't a typical second-year player.

His age, experience, and football background are part of what makes his profile unique. The Saints clearly believe those traits are accelerating his development.

The Saints Want Cleaner Football

Another theme that surfaced throughout the press conference was execution.

Moore discussed the offense operating out of shotgun roughly 75 percent of the time last season. While some of that was intentional and some of it was carryover from Philadelphia, it sounds like the Saints would like more balance moving forward.

More importantly, Moore repeatedly came back to fundamentals.

Better first halves.

Fewer turnovers early in the game.

Cleaner alignment and assignment sound football.

The emphasis wasn't fully on scheme, though some adjustments will be made there, it was on execution.  That's usually a sign of a coaching staff that believes the answers already exist inside the building.

Star role gets compared to Tight-End

Kellen Moore describe the Star role as one of the more demanding jobs in Brandon Staley's defense. It's a position with multiple responsibilities, similar to the way teams talk about tight ends on offense.

You need coverage ability.

You need tackling ability.

You need pressure versatility.

And to get it right, you need high reps.

The Saints will continue building depth there, and Moore noted they have safeties who can move down or corner's who can move inside but it increasingly sounds like Jonas Sanker is positioned to receive the majority of those opportunities.

The Defensive Line Remains a Developmental Story

The defensive line discussion was interesting because Moore seemed far more focused on development than immediate results.

Vernon Broughton remains a technique and assignment project, though Moore acknowledged the difficulty of evaluating defensive linemen in a limited-contact environment.

Tyree Wilson may have generated the most interesting comments of the group.

Moore described him as a sponge, highlighting both his willingness to learn and the work being done by Jay Rodgers to develop him as an edge player.

That's exactly what coaches want to see this time of year.

Not production.

Growth.

The Saints also seem comfortable with their edge depth overall. They may not have another star pass rusher beyond Chase Young, but they believe they have enough bodies to keep players fresh throughout the season.

Quick Hits

• Cesar Ruiz reported in good shape and appears positioned to stabilize the right guard position.

• Kendre Miller continues to progress from his ACL injury while Devin Neal is currently sidelined.

• Alvin Kamara and Nathan Shepherd remain limited.

• There have been no conversations regarding Taysom Hill, though Moore left the door open by adding, "you never know."

• Taliese Fuaga received positive reviews for his confidence and recovery from last year's injuries.

• Cam Jordan is in the building for a visit today, he and Mickey Loomis will have some discussions, and Moore is optimistic that something could get done today.

• Jordan Tyson, Christen Miller, and Chris Olave are all limited and on a similar injury protocol as they were for the OTA's.

• Moore highlighted there is 100% attendance from players

• Saints have sold out season tickets for 21 consecutive years.

Final Thought

If there was one phrase that summarized Kellen Moore's press conference, it was this:

The Saints are still teaching.

Fans and media want answers in June.

Coaches want development.

Right now, the Saints seem far more concerned with who is learning, who is retaining information, and who can handle additional responsibility than they are with naming starters.

That's not always exciting.

But it's usually where winning football begins.

The Saints Are Building Their Next Core: What Tyler Shough, Chris Olave, and Cam Jordan Tell Us About 2026

The Saints are telling us exactly what they think about their roster. Most people just aren't listening.

Everyone wants to talk about Tyler Shough, Chris Olave, and Alvin Kamara.. Everyone wants to know whether Cam Jordan is coming back.

The problem is those aren't separate stories. They're the same story.

The Saints are in the middle of replacing the core that has defined football in New Orleans for the better part of the last decade. Tyler Shough is being asked to become the face of the franchise. Danny Stutsman is being groomed to replace Demario Davis. Jonas Sanker is taking over a role previously occupied by Alontae Taylor. Jordan Tyson isn't simply competing with Chris Olave for targets—he's insurance. And Cam Jordan is confronting the same reality every great player eventually faces: the organization has to start preparing for what comes after him.

That's the story of this offseason.

Not one player. Not one position. An entire organizational transition.

The Saints Are Betting on Tyler Shough's Unique Profile

Back in January, Mickey Loomis sat down with Todd McShay for one of the more revealing interviews we've gotten from the Saints' general manager in years. Looking back, it almost feels like a blueprint for how the Saints would approach the offseason.

One of the more interesting questions McShay asked involved what successful organizations typically do after they find their quarterback. His observation was simple: most teams immediately turn their attention to the defense. There's a reason for that. Neutral game scripts are a young quarterback's best friend. Playing tied or down three is a lot easier than playing down 14, and good defense allows a quarterback to stay patient rather than feeling like every drive has to end in points.

Loomis described a different philosophy. The offensive line came first. The running game came second. The defense came third.

In Loomis' mind, offensive linemen are the engine of the football team. They're the culture drivers. The Saints followed that philosophy by bringing back David Edwards and continuing to invest in the offensive infrastructure around Tyler Shough.

Here's where things get interesting.

The Saints aren't treating Shough like a typical second-year quarterback because Shough isn't a typical second-year quarterback. What makes his profile unique isn't arm strength or athleticism. It's age and maturity.

Most quarterbacks entering Year 2 are still figuring out how to be professionals. They're learning how to study, prepare, lead a locker room, and handle the expectations that come with being the face of a franchise. Shough enters Year 2 from a very different starting point.

By the time he reached the NFL, he had already experienced multiple coaching staffs, multiple offensive systems, injuries, setbacks, competition, and the reality of repeatedly having to earn opportunities. His path wasn't linear, but it may have prepared him better for the pressures that come with leading an NFL team.

That's the bet the Saints are making.

They aren't building around a young quarterback. They're building around a mature quarterback. They're betting that a 26-year-old handles responsibility differently than a 22-year-old.

The problem is they only followed two-thirds of the blueprint.

The offensive line got attention. The running game got attention. The defense largely stayed where it was. That's where I start to get nervous.

Nobody in this organization has more pressure on them than Tyler Shough and Kellen Moore. Last season, even after Shough took over, the Saints struggled in the red zone and weren't particularly good offensively in the first half of games. The defense was often what kept them competitive.

Now that same defense appears likely to regress while nearly all of the organization's hopes are tied to offensive growth. That's a dangerous place to be.

A quarterback's second season is supposed to reduce pressure. Instead, Shough enters 2026 with more responsibility than ever. The Saints clearly believe his maturity allows him to carry that burden.

We're about to find out if they're right.

Chris Olave's Situation Is Bigger Than Blood Clots

The headline is the blood-clot situation. The larger story is the injury history.

Those are two very different conversations, but they're becoming increasingly difficult to separate.

Right now, Chris Olave remains limited because of the lingering effects of the blood-clot issue that surfaced earlier this offseason. Back in January, the expectation was that he'd be ready for full football activities within roughly three months. That timeline has come and gone, and the Saints continue to proceed cautiously.

And they should.

Blood clots aren't something teams rush. At this point, the issue is less about panic and more about patience. The Saints have every reason to prioritize Olave's long-term health over June practice reps.

But I don't think the Saints are evaluating the blood-clot situation in isolation. I think they're evaluating the entire picture.

Olave has five documented concussions dating back to Ohio State. He has a back issue that has required maintenance. Now add the blood-clot situation to the file. Individually, none of those issues would stop a contract extension.

Collectively, they become harder to ignore.

That's especially true when nearly every meaningful receiver from Olave's draft class has already received a second contract while Olave remains in limbo.

If a clean extension was inevitable, it probably would have happened already. Maybe the Saints want complete clarity on the blood-clot situation. Maybe they're looking at the entirety of his injury history before making a long-term commitment.

Either way, the delay feels significant.

That brings me to Jordan Tyson.

The Saints have two high-end sports cars with mechanical concerns in Tyson and Chris Olave. Both are still on their rookie deals but the difference is one is a holdover from a previous regime and approaching a major pay day, while the other was drafted by Moore.

Tyson isn't simply a compliment to Olave. He's insurance.

The Saints now have four receivers on rookie contracts, all of whom have received the green light from Kellen Moore's staff. NFL teams don't wait until they have a problem before planning for one.

The blood clots are the current story. The bigger story is whether the Saints are certain Chris Olave can be one of the foundational pieces of their next core.

OTA News Shows Where The Saints Are Headed

If you want to know where the Saints are going, watch where the snaps are going. That's usually the first clue.

Two names continue to stand out: Jonas Sanker and Danny Stutsman.

Sanker has been working at the Star position in Brandon Staley's defense, effectively replacing the role previously occupied by Alontae Taylor, and I love the fit.

I've written before that the NFL is trending bigger in the slot. The days of tiny jitterbug receivers dominating the middle of the field are fading. Teams are putting legitimate size inside—receivers over 200 pounds, players over six feet tall, and even tight ends masquerading as slot receivers.

That's why Sanker's safety background matters.

His size matters. His physicality matters. More importantly, moving him closer to the line of scrimmage maximizes his strengths.

There were several plays during pre-season where his downhill trigger and block-destruction ability jumped off the screen. Playing deep safety often minimized those traits. Playing Star emphasizes them. The Saints may have found a way to unlock more of his game while simultaneously adapting to where the NFL is headed.

The linebacker situation may be even more interesting.

Pete Werner and Danny Stutsman appear headed toward a battle for the Mike linebacker position as the Saints prepare for life after Demario Davis. Werner reminds me a lot of Scott Shanle—dependable, available, solid, and rarely spectacular.

But the Mike linebacker position demands a certain level of physicality.

Taking on blocks. Filling interior gaps. Keeping the structure of the defense intact.

Werner has spent much of his career at Will linebacker for a reason. Stutsman, meanwhile, has shown an ability to take on offensive linemen, disengage, and finish tackles. As 2025 progressed, he looked increasingly comfortable doing exactly what the Mike linebacker position requires.

Experience favors Werner. The skill set favors Stutsman.

My guess is Stutsman eventually wins the job.

That would allow Kaden Ellis to settle into the Will linebacker role full time, where his versatility becomes a weapon. Coverage, blitzing, pressure packages—all the things that made him successful in Atlanta.

I also expect the Saints' pressure packages to evolve. Historically, Brandon Staley's defenses become more aggressive in Year 2 once players fully understand the system. If that trend continues, Ellis may end up being one of the most impactful additions of the offseason.

The final piece of this puzzle is Cam Jordan.

Kellen Moore recently shed a little more light on the situation, but nothing has really changed. The offer remains on the table. The role remains on the table. The decision belongs to Cam.

What has changed is where Jordan sits in the hierarchy.

Much like Alvin Kamara, he probably isn't guaranteed extensive first-team reps during training camp anymore. Those reps belong to cornerstone players and developing talent. The Saints need to see what they have in their young edge rushers.

Personally, I think Jordan's best move is patience. Enjoy the family. Let the young guys develop. Let training camp play out.

Then return knowing exactly what your role is.

Third-down pass rusher. Veteran leader. Closer.

The Saints aren't trying to replace Cam Jordan's legacy. They're trying to survive the day he isn't here anymore.

That's ultimately what this entire offseason has been about.

The Saints aren't simply building a roster. They're building their next core.

Tyler Shough. Jordan Tyson. Jonas Sanker. Danny Stutsman. Those are the players they're betting on.

The question now is whether those bets pay off.