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NFL
One of the Saints' Top Positional Battles This Offseason Will Be on Special Teams
TL;DR
The New Orleans Saints face significant positional battles this offseason, particularly on special teams, where the kicker role remains unfilled. After a disappointing previous season, the team has made several upgrades to improve their special teams performance.
Key points
- Saints have unresolved roster issues for 2026.
- Positional battles will focus on depth rather than just the QB position.
- Special teams were a major concern last season.
- Upgrades include signing punter Ryan Wright and drafting Barion Brown.
- Kicker position remains a critical focus for improvement.
New Orleans Saints
One of the Saints' Top Positional Battles This Offseason Will Be on Special Teams
The New Orleans Saints are far from having a solidified roster for 2026, no matter how many starters they were able to find this offseason. Positional battles are a staple of any teams' training camp, and for the Saints, they will have a number to watch out for. Unlike last year, which was heavily focused on the QB battle between Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler, New Orleans roster will instead be looking at more depth battles and how position groups end up looking. But on special teams, it's all about who gets the starting job at kicker.
Last season, some things went well, and others went horribly wrong. The special teams can be considered a complete failure last season, even with Charlie Smyth's late-season heroics. Former Saints kicker Blake Grupe's missed field goals were the difference in games the team lost. The punting was a major issue that allowed opponents to get much better field position, the return game was uninspiring, and the punt/kick coverage was a glaring problem. Overall, it was a complete mess, and the Saints clearly knew that going into the season.
The staff has already done work to upgrade parts of the special teams, such as signing a proven punter in Ryan Wright, drafting a kick returner in Barion Brown, and upgrading the special teams coverage by selecting Lorenzo Styles Jr. This was a great start in turning around a disappointing special teams unit, but last, and arguably most importantly, is the kicker situation.
As I briefly mentioned, Smyth had his moments throughout the end of the season, but it was not perfect. He missed some kicks that should have been made. This was fine, given it was his first time kicking in the NFL, but those misses need to be fixed, and he did not do enough to secure the starting spot. The Saints need to continue evaluating that position until they have a near-sure thing, which is why they signed Texas K Mason Shipley and are bringing in veteran K for their rookie minicamp.
Q&A
Who are the key players competing for the Saints' kicker position?
The article highlights that the Saints are currently evaluating their options for the kicker role, but does not specify the competing players.
What changes has the Saints' special teams made for the 2026 season?
The Saints have signed punter Ryan Wright, drafted kick returner Barion Brown, and selected Lorenzo Styles Jr. to enhance their special teams coverage.
Why was the Saints' special teams considered a failure last season?
The Saints' special teams struggled due to missed field goals, poor punting performance, and ineffective coverage, leading to significant issues in field position and game outcomes.