Saints WR outlook this offseason
By: Jake Rajala
The New Orleans Saints don’t have the sexiest wide receiver group. Chris Olave was second-team All-Pro and rightfully so. He recorded 100 catches, 1,163 yards, and nine touchdowns. He also missed a game. They traded away Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks and they cut Brandin Cooks. DeVaughn Vele is a modest, tough WR. I don’t think he’s quite talented enough to be a WR2, however. With that said, I’m going to unfold several WR targets for the Saints this offseason.
Deebo Samuel
I really like the versatility that the 2026 free agent Deebo Samuel brings to the table. I don’t expect the swiss army knife Taysom Hill to be a Saint in 2026. Hence, Samuel can help fill in that void. He can play RB and slot WR, similar to Hill. Samuel can also return kicks, which will help replace Shaheed.
Mike Evans
The Saints have a speedster in Olave. I’d love to see them get a physical, red zone threat in Mike Evans. He’s the poor man’s version of Megatron. The Saints know how potent he is, as they’ve been stuck playing against him twice a season. Sadly, Marshon Lattimore is gone, so there wouldn’t be any fights between the two in practice.
Tyreek Hill
Mike McDaniel is out the door and I expect Tua to soon follow him. Tyreek Hill should be aching to play with a QB better than Tua, anyhow. Kellen Moore would be able to get the ball to Hill in many different ways. Hill was once voted the best overall player not too long ago. With Hill and Olave, the Saints could have a Top-5 WR tandem.
Brandon Aiyuk
The secret is out: Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers are headed toward a breakup. Aiyuk is still legit and versatile. In 2023, he unleashed 1,342 yards and several touchdowns! So, he was voted second-team All-Pro. Aiyuk is still 27 years old, so he has plenty of gas left in the tank (did you see what I did there?).
Alec Pierce
Alec Pierce is a Top-3 WR free agent in 2026. So, it may be somewhat unrealistic for the Saints to get their hands on him. Nonetheless, the Saints could throw all their money at him. Plus, they have a stout QB and a spot at WR2. so he may be tempted to come to the Big Easy. Pierce notched 1,003 yards and six TDs last season.
AJ Brown
AJ Brown once played under Kellen Moore, so there’s chemistry there. Brown has also expressed a sad move toward his situation in Philly. Shough would certainly give him more production than Jalen Hurts. Brown manageed to be a 1k yard WR last season, but his luck may soon run out.
Justin Jefferson
“So, you’re telling me there’s a chance?”
Justin Jefferson has expressed his distaste in the Vikings choosing to roll with J.J. McCarthy over Sam Darnold. Jefferson went from looking like a Top-3 WR to a Top-10 WR. Jefferson barely eclipsed 1k yards (as he had 1,048 yards) and only reached the endzone twice. A change in scenery for the 26 year old may be wise.
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