When the NFL released its Pro Bowl rosters this week, not a single New Orleans Saints player earned the honor.
It was the first time since 2016 the Saints did not have a single representative on the initial Pro Bowl roster — and that season, both Drew Brees and Cam Jordan made the team as alternates.
The news did not necessarily come as a shock for a battered Saints roster that has had many of its best players miss significant chunks of the season with injury. Even so, the Pro Bowl shutout should merit a look at the state of the Saints roster as it prepares to head into the 2025 offseason.
New Orleans has 48 players on its active roster who are 28 or younger (including those on injured reserve). Of that group, only three — Erik McCoy, Rashid Shaheed and J.T. Gray — have made a Pro Bowl in a Saints uniform. Of that subset, only McCoy was drafted, and Shaheed and Gray made it for their special-teams contributions.
Put another way, the Saints have a shortage of young impact players. With the team potentially heading toward a difficult rebuild, who are the 10 players who are 28 or younger who should serve as the foundational pieces of that transition?
The top five
- WR Chris Olave (24)
- OC Erik McCoy (27)
- OT Taliese Fuaga (22)
- WR Rashid Shaheed (26)
- DT Bryan Bresee (23)
These are the best young players on the Saints roster, and based on what they’ve shown so far, the ones who have the best shot of making a Pro Bowl or All-Pro roster (or another one, in the case of Shaheed and McCoy).
When healthy, Olave and Shaheed have proven to be one of the most dynamic receiver duos in the NFL.
Extrapolate the five games Shaheed played with Derek Carr before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 6, and he was on pace for a 65-catch, 1,149-yard, 10-touchdown season — and that’s not taking into account his status as one of the NFL’s most dangerous returners. Olave, meanwhile, would’ve certainly cracked 1,000 yards for the third time in his three NFL seasons had it not been for a pair of concussions.
Talented as they are, health will continue to be a concern for both Olave and Shaheed. The Saints can’t afford to go into a season banking on both to remain on the field for 17 games.
While Fuaga has gone through some growing pains as a rookie, he clearly belongs. There was some concern going into the year about his ability to play left tackle since he played exclusively on the right side in college, but he’s put those fears to rest with a solid rookie campaign. Going into Week 18, Pro Football Focus gave him the second-best grade of any rookie tackle in run blocking (72.4), behind only top-five pick Joe Alt.
Every time McCoy looked ready to establish himself as one of the NFL’s best centers this season, he had an injury setback. But he is clearly a difference-maker when he’s on the field. He only played 293 snaps this year, but in the limited playing time, he was PFF’s highest-ranked center.
While Bresee’s game is not yet complete enough for him to be considered a true blue-chip player — he has struggled mightily against the run in his two seasons — he has rare ability to impact the game as an interior pass rusher. His 12 sacks his first two seasons rank sixth among NFL interior players. That is difficult to find, and even if he maintains this course as a rotational player, he is one of the defense’s most important building blocks.
The next five
- CB Alontae Taylor (26)
- OG Cesar Ruiz (25)
- DE Carl Granderson (28)
- CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (22)
- OT Trevor Penning (25)
Consider these players to be the ones who have shown flashes — sometimes sustained flashes — of impact-starter ability but have yet to put it together on a consistent basis.
At times, Taylor has looked like a budding star. At times, he’s struggled. It certainly hasn’t helped that the Saints have flip-flopped him between slot and outside corner out of necessity. The traits are all there, and if New Orleans can commit to playing him at one position, he may still blossom into a star.
Ruiz and Penning are kind of similar players. The Saints selected both in the first round, and both went through some early rough patches in their career before finding their footing. And it’s probably also fair to say both have been, at their best, average NFL starters. On a better team, they likely would not have cracked a list of top 10 young players.
The same can be said for McKinstry, who has been up and down after being pressed into a starting role as a rookie. Still, McKinstry is an important player for the Saints’ future. Their 2024 second-rounder has all the tools to be a solid starter at a premium position, and New Orleans should be willing to live with some early growing pains.
At this stage in his career, Granderson probably is what he is: A solid rotational defensive end with some pass-rushing upside. He failed to build on his breakout 2023 season, but with an average annual salary of $13 million, he remains relatively affordable for the value he provides.
Also considered
- RB Kendre Miller (22)
- LB Pete Werner (25)
Both of these players have done some nice things but need to show more.
In Miller’s case, he obviously just needs to stay healthy. He is clearly an explosive player, but it’s hard to feel truly confident in a player who has missed more games (19) than he’s played in (14).
Werner has been a dependable player for the Saints, and it’s why the organization signed him to an extension this offseason. But he hasn’t been an impact player. In four seasons, much of which he’s started, Werner has just one interception, two fumble recoveries and half of a sack.
Uncertain futures
- CB Paulson Adebo (25)
- DE Chase Young (25)
Both of these players would’ve slotted somewhere on this list, but both will be free agents this offseason, and it would not be surprising to see them playing for another team.
Though Adebo’s consistent issues with penalties are concerning, it’d be foolish to look past his production from the last two years. Despite only playing in seven games, he remains tied for the team lead in interceptions (three) and ranks second in passes defended (10). He should cash in this offseason, even after suffering a broken leg.
Young is a little harder to peg. He’s been the Saints’ most consistent rusher this year, ranking 10th in the NFL in total pressures according to PFF — it just hasn’t resulted in sacks. He has 5½ this year, which is tied for 59th in the NFL. Still, his position, age and pedigree — combined with his healthy showing in 2024 — should still net him a decent payday this offseason.
