The New Orleans Saints are currently navigating a challenging season, particularly after their recent 24-10 defeat against the Atlanta Falcons. This loss places the Saints firmly at the bottom of the NFC South with a record of 2-9. As the NFL season moves into its final weeks, each game becomes crucial, affecting playoff standings and draft positions alike.
For teams like the Saints, who find themselves out of playoff contention, the focus shifts to securing a favorable spot in the upcoming NFL Draft. With the current standings, if the season were to conclude today, New Orleans would be positioned for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Tennessee Titans would hold the No. 1 pick, followed by the New York Giants at No. 2. The Saints share their record with the New York Jets and the Las Vegas Raiders, but their lower strength of schedule puts them third among those teams.
A bright spot for New Orleans fans is the emergence of quarterback Tyler Shough, who has shown promise in his recent performances. If Shough can continue to demonstrate his capabilities, the Saints could be in a potent position heading into the draft. Holding a top-three pick could provide the team with significant leverage to trade down to a quarterback-needy team, such as the Jets, potentially acquiring valuable assets in return.
Alternatively, if the Saints decide to retain their draft position and maintain confidence in Shough as their quarterback of the future, they might opt to select a standout defensive player with their high pick. The decision ahead is crucial for the franchise as they work to reshape their roster for the upcoming seasons.
As the regular season progresses, the Saints” front office will be closely monitoring Shough”s development and the overall landscape of the draft. With a strong finish to the season, the team could turn a challenging year into a promising future.
