New Orleans Saints’ plan for a full rebuild in 2025, as another captain retires and arduous offseason continues

New Orleans Saints’ roster outlook for the 2025 season and beyond

Ryan Ramczyk was a three-time All-Pro for the New Orleans Saints, proving to be one of the league’s best offensive tackles just a few years ago. That said, he didn’t play at all in 2024, and his retirement is one the Saints have known about for some time.

In the 2024 NFL draft, they selected versatile tackle Taliese Fuaga, who started all 17 games of his rookie season at left tackle. He will now move to right tackle in 2025, meaning the franchise already has their long-term replacement for Ramczyk in the building and ready to go.

The same is true for the safety position following Mathieu’s retirement announcement this week. The Saints signed Super Bowl-winning free agent Justin Reid during the offseason, giving the accomplished safety a three-year, $31.5 million contract.

Mathieu spent the last three seasons in New Orleans in a defensive captain’s role. He played 12 years in the league altogether, earning three first-team All-Pro selections, and winning a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.

While Reid may have originally played alongside Mathieu, he can now assume the captain’s role in the secondary. The Saints quickly signed free agent Julian Blackmon following the retirement announcement, too, covering the need in a hurry as training camp begins.

The biggest question mark for the 2025 season is the quarterback. Derek Carr opted to retire rather than go through a season of rehabbing his shoulder on injured reserve, leaving the QB room with very little experience.

The Saints selected Tyler Shough with the 40th pick in the second round of the 2025 draft. Kellen Moore was hunting for his franchise quarterback, and liked what the Louisville QB put on tape in 2024.

That said, it’s unclear if the Saints were expecting to start him as early as Week 1, but with little experience around him, there’s no reason the rookie can’t claim the job.

The three QBs in New Orleans have seven career starts between them, and all seven of those came in 2024. Spencer Rattler started six games once Derek Carr went down, and Jake Haener got one at the end of the year. Haener claimed earlier in the offseason that the Saints didn’t need a veteran to have success.

It’s the most inexperienced group in the NFL by a long distance, but Shough is hoping his vast college experience will help him develop quickly in the league.

While the Saints are experiencing a lot of turnover, and the changing of the guard from several veterans to younger draftees, the roster shows a lot of promise.

They’ve drafted first-round tackles in back-to-back years, adding Kelvin Banks Jr. in the first round of the 2025 draft as the long-term fit at left tackle. Banks was a three-year starter at left tackle for the Texas Longhorns, and could prove to be a 10-year veteran for the Saints if he works out as expected.

Brandin Cooks returned to the team that drafted him during the offseason, pairing with star receiver Chris Olave and deep threat Rashid Shaheed to form an intriguing starting three. The only concern with the pass catchers is the seeming lack of depth, meaning Kellen Moore will need young players to step up.

There are some concerns on the defensive side of the ball, particularly at cornerback. The Saints traded All-Pro corner Marshon Lattimore during the season last year, and will now need younger talent including 2024 second rounder Kool-Aid McKinstry to step into a much bigger role in the coming season.

Tyler Shough has a year to prove himself as the franchise quarterback

The New Orleans Saints are already being tipped as an ideal landing spot for one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL draft. There are several highly-touted starters likely available, including Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and Penn State’s Drew Allar.

Arch Manning is also an option if he decides to declare early, meaning QB-needy teams will want to decide quickly whether they have a franchise quarterback in the building or not.

Shough had a turbulent college football career, marred by injuries at nearly every opportunity he got to start a full season. His lone year at Louisville in 2024 proved to be the making of him, and the Saints are now hoping he can carry his experience into a lead role in the NFL.

If he hits, New Orleans can focus their draft on building around him, rather than spending more valuable picks on another quarterback.

The Saints’ roster collectively is a year or two away from completing a rebuild that replenishes veteran talent with younger pieces. However, they are well on their way, and Kellen Moore might turn the ship around in a hurry.