In the 23rd of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the New Orleans Saints.
Key Off-Season Acquisitions
The Saints acquired five new players in the offseason, and three via trade. Interesting two of the trades (with Denver and Jacksonville) happened this week.
New Orleans acquired defensive tackle Davon Godchaux of Plaquemine, Louisiana from the New England Patriots for a seventh round draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on March 10. Godchaux spent four seasons each with the Miami Dolphins (2017 to 2020), and with the Patriots (2021 to 2024). Last season, Godchaux had 67 combined tackles (24 solo tackles and 43 assisted tackles), one quarterback hit, one tackle for a loss, and one pass deflection. The quarterback hit came in a 25-22 Patriots win over the New York Jets on October 27.
The Saints also acquired center Luke Fortner of Cleveland, Ohio from the Jacksonville Jaguars for defensive lineman Khalen Saunders of St. Louis, Missouri on Sunday. Fortner spent the last three seasons with the Jaguars. Saunders is joining his third NFL team after four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and two seasons with the Saints. While with the Chiefs, Saunders won two Super Bowls. Last season with the Saints, Saunders had 43 combined tackles, five quarterback hits, three tackles for a loss, one interception for 37 yards, three pass deflections and two sacks.
Then on Wednesday, the Saints acquired wide receiver DeVaughn Vele of Indianapolis, Indiana from the Denver Broncos for a fourth round pick in 2026 and a seventh round pick in 2027. Vele had 41 catches for 475 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season of 2024 with the Broncos.
In free agency, the Saints signed safety Justin Reid of Prairieville, Louisiana to a three-year deal worth $31.5 million. Reid is joining his third NFL team after four seasons with the Houston Texans from 2018 to 2021, and three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2022 to 2024.
It is Kansas City where Reid won two Super Bowls in 2023 and 2024. This past season, Reid had 87 combined tackles (61 solo tackles and 26 assisted tackles), two quarterback hits, five tackles for a loss, two interceptions for eight yards, and nine pass deflections. The interceptions came in a 28-18 Chiefs win over the San Francisco 49ers on October 20, and in a 29-10 Chiefs win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The quarterback hits came in a 16-14 Chiefs win over the Denver Broncos and in a 19-17 Chiefs win over the Las Vegas Raiders on November 29.
The Saints have also signed wide receiver Brandin Cooks of Stockton, California to a two-year deal worth $13 million. Cooks is returning to the Saints, after playing three seasons there from 2014 to 2016. He was also with the New England Patriots (2017), the Los Angeles Rams (2018 and 2019), the Houston Texans (2020 to 2022), and the Dallas Cowboys (2023 and 2024).
New Orleans also named Kellen Moore of Prosser, Washington as their new head coach. Moore was the offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles last season.
Fantasy Stars
There are no Saints ranked in the top 10 in any fantasy position.
Projected Finish
The Saints finished last in the NFC South last year at five wins and 12 losses. With Derek Carr retiring at age 34, the Saints will be going through a rebuilding year with Spencer Rattler at the helm. Expect a fourth place finish in the NFC South.
