A Career Built on Details
The New Orleans Saints were supposed to be the worst team in the NFL. Instead, they went 6-11 and had a surprising Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist in quarterback Tyler Shough. The second-round pick went 5-4 as the starter, winning just as many games as all other Saints rookie quarterbacks all-time. That is the kind of quiet milestone that gets buried under league-wide chaos but actually says quite a bit about what changed.
Now that the full 2026 NFL schedule is here, the win total for the Saints sits at Over/Under 7.5 (Over -115, Under -105) at Draft Kings Sportsbook.
The Record He Leaves
On one hand, Shough was the most impressive rookie quarterback in the NFL. The Saints upgraded his weaponry with Travis Etienne and first-round pick Jordyn Tyson. Chris Olave is also coming off a career year. On the other, they lost a few important pieces on defense, such as defensive lineman Cameron Jordan, cornerback Alontae Taylor and linebacker Demario Davis. Even at 6-11, the Saints were better than expected in 2025.
The Saints put together one of the most underrated drafts this year. Tyson at No. 8 overall could be the top receiver in the class if he can stay healthy. Christen Miller at No. 42 is a run-stuffer. Bryce Lance at No. 136 has the size, speed and traits of a starting wideout. TJ Hall is a willing contributor against the run who also led the Big Ten with 10 passes defensed last year.
The Part People Remember
They have the benefit of playing the second-easiest schedule in the NFL this season, behind only the Cleveland Browns, based on opponents' combined 2025 records. I'm going to lean toward the over for New Orleans, but a few things will have to change in 2026. The Saints can't rank last in the NFL in red-zone TD percentage (44.4%) again and have to score more than 18 points per game.