New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means may not have had the rookie production he'd hoped for this past season. However, the talented second-year wideout may be a much bigger part of new Saints head coach Kellen Moore's offense.
Means, 24, was the second of three fifth-round picks by the Saints in the 2024 NFL Draft with the 170th overall choice. He was drafted out of the University of Pittsburgh, making him only the eighth Panthers player New Orleans has ever drafted in their 58-year history.
Previous to Means, the Saints had not drafted a Pitt product since DE Greg Romeus 2011. Means was the was the first Panthers draft choice to make the New Orleans roster since RB Craig Heyward, a first-round pick in 1988.
Bub Means - Saints
Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (16) catches a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
After a promising but inconsistent preseason, Means saw very light action to start the regular season. Over the first five games, he played only 19 offensive snaps and did not record a catch on only one target.
Injuries to the New Orleans wide receiver unit pressed Means into more playing time as the team headed towards mid-season. He'd get his first significant action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.
Midway through the second quarter against the Buccaneers, Means caught his first career touchdown, a 10-yard score, from fellow fifth-round rookie QB Spencer Rattler. He'd wind up being the Saints leading receiver on the day, pulling in five of eight targets for 45 yards.
Means saw his first career start the following week against the Denver Broncos. He'd catch three of his five targets in that loss for 37 yards. Means would suffer a high ankle injury the next week in a loss to the Chargers, catching one pass for 36 yards.
The injury sidelined Means for the rest of the season. He'd join starting wideouts Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed on the injury list, missing the year's final nine games. Means had nine receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown on 15 targets. The majority of that over three contests.
Bub Means - Pitt
Means started his collegiate career at Tennessee in 2019, but was redshirted and transferred to Louisiana Tech after the season. He sat out the 2020 campaign but had 22 receptions for 430 yards and 2 touchdowns for Louisiana Tech in 2021.
After the 2021-22 season, Means again made the decision to transfer. This time, he migrated north to the Steel City and the University of Pittsburgh. In his first year with the Panthers, he'd catch 27 passes for 401 yards and two scores.
Pitt had a difficult year in 2023, finishing with a 3-9 record. Bub Means was one of the few bright spots for the Panthers. Means had 41 receptions for a team-high 721 yards and six scores, also best on the team.
Means had an average of 17.6 yards per catch ranked second in the ACC. He had one 100-yard outing and six more games with at least 70 receiving yards. Despite quarterback issues for the Panthers, his production was enough for Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition.
Means Forecast for 2025
Pittsburgh Panthers Bub Means (0) hauls in a pass in coverage against the West Virginia Mountaineers. © Michael Longo/For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Saints have an entirely new coaching staff, starting with an offensive-minded head coach in Moore and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. Wide receiver coach Keith Williams is one of the few holdovers from last year's staff.
Olave and Shaheed are an explosive duo. However, the Saints had no reliable targets at the position when they were each lost to injury. As a result, New Orleans was anemic on offense down the stretch after a torrid start to the year.
Means looked like he could be a possible weapon, but was injured himself just as he was beginning to assert himself. Mid-season pickup Marquez Valdes-Scantling had some outstanding moments, but he's an unrestricted free agent.
At 6'2" and 215-Lbs., Means doesn't have overwhelming size but is a physical receiver who can handle himself well against larger defensive backs. His numbers at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine also suggest that he has the athleticism necessary to make plays at the NFL level.
40-yard dash: 4.43
10-yard split: 1.55
Vertical Jump: 39.5"
Broad Jump: 10'2"
Means is a player that plays much faster than his 40 time. His route breaks are at top speed, a trait that was beginning to show itself as he got more comfortable in the New Orleans offense. He has the physical ability to run a full route tree as both an outside receiver or from the slot.
While his routes need better precision, Means has shown the ability to be a reliable intermediate option that will move the chains for his offense. He'll need to slip press coverage better with experience, but has the instant acceleration to create separation.
Two marks of a successful NFL wideout are separation skills and the ability to make contested catches. Remember that in 2023 with Pitt, Means was among the ACC leaders in contested receptions. His explosive leaping ability allows him to high-point the ball and he expertly uses his body to shield defenders from a throw.
Most think that the Saints could target a wideout early in the draft or perhaps look to bring in a veteran free agent. While they may possibly do either, how highly they prioritize the position will show how much they believe in the development of former Pitt Panther Bub Means in his second season.
