The New Orleans Saints will report back to coaching camp on July twenty ninth. Coaching camp is the primary large step to making ready for the NFL season, and there’s a ton of pleasure each inside and out of doors the constructing for the 2026 Saints.
New Orleans has loads of expectations for the upcoming season. With the breakout of Tyler Shough, the Saints are ready to win the NFC South in 2026, if they really full that feat is one other dialogue.
Alvin Kamara’s position within the offense
Nov 10, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints working again Alvin Kamara (41) is introduced to the followers in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons throughout the first half at Caesars Superdome. Necessary Credit score: Stephen Lew-Imagn Photos Stephen Lew-Imagn Photos
The Saints formally reworked Alvin Kamara’s contract simply a few weeks forward of coaching camp, placing the narrative that he wouldn’t be a Saint in 2026 to relaxation. However now that the 30-year-old working again is formally set to play for New Orleans in 2026, what is going to his position appear like?
When the Saints signed Travis Etienne to a four-year $47.4 million contract, it was clear he could be the crew’s RB1 going ahead. Accordingly, New Orleans needed to restructure Kamara’s contract, decreasing his pay from $11.5 million to $6 million with an opportunity to make as much as $8.5 million with incentives.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – JANUARY 04: Travis Etienne Jr. #1 of the Jacksonville Jaguars enters the sector previous to a recreation in opposition to the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Picture by Wealthy Storry/Getty Photos) Getty Photos
Whereas Kamara’s pay was lowered, it doesn’t imply he gained’t have a pivotal position within the Saints’ offense. The veteran working again is now not anticipated to the touch the ball 20+ instances a recreation, and whereas that might be seen as a unfavorable, it offers Kamara an opportunity to be extra explosive in-game. Kamara will likely be tackled much less and be featured extra in play designs made only for him. This lowers his probabilities of getting injured, one thing he’s handled over the previous few seasons, and units him up for the offensive workers to make the most of his talent set to its max.
Coaching camp will simply be a glimpse of what the black and gold have deliberate for the veteran working again, however will probably be attention-grabbing to see what Kellen Moore envisions with the Kamara-Etienne tandem.
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 04: New Orleans cornerback Quincy Riley (29) warms up previous to the beginning of the NFL recreation between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons on January 4th, 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Picture by Wealthy von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos) Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos
There are quite a lot of questions within the Saints’ secondary, particularly across the cornerback room. New Orleans was surprisingly quiet throughout the 2026 NFL Draft when it comes to including to their secondary, ready till the seventh spherical to lastly make an addition with Iowa defensive again T.J. Corridor. However the Saints swiftly added cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. shortly after.
Second-year cornerback Quincy Riley took over CB2 duties final season as a rookie and confirmed loads of promise. However along with his promise got here obvious errors, some you could possibly excuse to him being a rookie, however others that present a transparent want to enhance.
Whereas Riley was the crew’s CB2 final season, Emerson was a high-level CB2 throughout his time with the Cleveland Browns earlier than struggling a big harm. When requested whether or not he’ll play within the slot or as a boundary nook, Emerson mentioned discussions with the crew whereas signing pointed in direction of him being an outdoor nook.
Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Monetary Subject. Necessary Credit score: Eric Hartline-Imagn Photos Eric Hartline-Imagn Photos
With Emerson being signed as an outdoor nook, does that push Riley to the nickel? Or is Riley or Emerson beginning in entrance of the opposite one whereas one other participant takes on slot obligations? We don’t know but, however coaching camp will likely be a giant indicator of who the crew believes is fitter for the position.
Is Jordyn Tyson wholesome sufficient?
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 23: Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State poses after being chosen eighth total decide by the New Orleans Saints throughout Spherical One of many 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Picture by Emilee Chinn/Getty Photos) Getty Photos
The Saints swung for the fences by drafting Arizona State huge receiver Jordyn Tyson. An attractive however dangerous decide. Tyson has all of the expertise to be one of the best wideout within the 2026 NFL Draft, however accidents have plagued his faculty profession. Even after enjoying in over 10+ video games in only one faculty season, the Saints had been comfy sufficient to take Tyson eighth total.
The gifted rookie huge receiver gives Shough a brand new weapon on offense and can play a complementary half alongside Chris Olave. However the alarm bells have already rung as Tyson has missed throughout OTAs and rookie minicamp. Coach Moore has already stepped in and put an finish to these conversations, nevertheless, saying this was only a precautionary step as Tyson recovers from strains in each his hamstrings that he suffered throughout his senior 12 months.
Whereas Moore has tried to finish the harm discussions for Tyson, his availability all through coaching camp will inform if he’s on observe to begin and the way he’s doing throughout restoration.
