With training camp just days away, the Saints Insiders are back with an episode on reasonable expectations for each defensive position group on the 2025 New Orleans Saints. • Can Brandon Staley's alignment unlock more pass rush, either from the edge or other positions? • The run defense can't get much worse, but how much better can it be? • Can Demario Davis continue to defy Father Time? And what's the backup plan if he can't? • The depth is perilously thin at corner, but Alontae Taylor might be...
Jul 17, 2025•54 min
The Saints Insiders (some of them, anyway) are back from vacation, and just in time to comment on the New Orleans Saints' new white helmets. We also use this podcast to dive into each of the Saints' offensive position groups and give our expectations for each spot: • Can either young quarterback take control? • Can anyone help Alvin Kamara? • At wide receiver, it's all about staying healthy • Juwan Johnson breakout ... finally? • Investment in young tackles must pay off #saints #neworleanssaints...
Jul 10, 2025•52 min
The New Orleans Saints are going through a roster reset, if not a full rebuild, and so they'll need young players to break out in 2025. Who are the top candidates for the sort of season that can turn a rookie into a starter or a solid player into a star? Our Saints Insiders discuss their choices. #saints #neworleanssaints #whodat #whodatnation #nfl #nflrookies #nfldraft #nfloffseason #saintsnation
Jul 02, 2025•55 min
Several pundits, rankings and odds boards have listed the New Orleans Saints as the worst team in the NFL or the team the least likely to win the Super Bowl. Our Saints Insiders discuss whether there's a case for that, what reasons the Saints have for optimism and the paths that lead to each outcome, including: • A look at the QB battle between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough • The pros and cons of rookie head coach Kellen Moore and staff • Is the defense still in decline? • Could the offensive...
Jun 25, 2025•34 min
The New Orleans Saints are done with minicamp and their offseason program, so with five weeks still to go before training camp, we take an early look at the team's final 53-man roster for opening day in September. Lots could change in camp, between player performances and injuries, but for now, we'll discuss: • The backup running back spots • Who will fill out the receiving corps? • Will the Saints carry eight or nine offensive linemen? • Who's the odd man out at defensive tackle? • How is the s...
Jun 18, 2025•45 min
The New Orleans Saints have reached the end of their offseason program with mandatory minicamp. Our Saints Insiders — beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras, columnist Rod Walker and editor Zach Ewing — give their thoughts on performances from quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough, who's winning the QB competition and much more, including: • The apparently set-in-stone OL lineup • Defensive scheme shift and what it means • Overall top-down changes in structure and attitude #saints #...
Jun 13, 2025•36 min
The New Orleans Saints have some salary cap space for once — about $29M that could be spend before the 2025 season begins. Our Saints Insider crew breaks down how likely it is the team will spend most of that and on whom: Gabe Davis, Cam Akers, Asante Samuel Jr, Jaire Alexander or someone else? And is a trade to get Trey Hendrickson back to New Orleans even possible? We'll break it all down in this episode. #saints #neworleanssaints #whodat #whodatnation #nfl #nflfreeagency #nfloffseason...
Jun 11, 2025•37 min
With all the talk about the New Orleans Saints' quarterback situation and offensive rebuild, it felt like high time to talk about all of the changes on the defensive side of the ball. With a new coordinator in Brandon Staley, the Saints are bringing back the 3-4 defense. How much will really change? Could Chase Young and Alontae Taylor unlock their potential? And who else will be key to this defense improving on poor marks in 2024? Our Times-Picayune beat writers, Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras,...
Jun 04, 2025•42 min
As the New Orleans Saints go through their second OTA this week, our Saints Insiders take a step back and rank the team's nine position groups, from worst to best. Do Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed make the wide receivers the team's best position? Is the secondary still a strength? What about the rebuilt offensive line? And how far down are the quarterbacks? We'll tell you what we think — and you can leave in the comments where you think we went wrong. #saints #neworleanssaints #whodat #whodatna...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 4 min
The first organized team activity is over for the New Orleans Saints, and our Saints Insiders — beat writer Matthew Paras, columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker and editor Zach Ewing — have a bunch of takeaways. • How Kellen Moore interacts with veteran players • Spencer Rattler's "don't forget about me" performance • The best sign of all: Healthy wide receivers • Is the OL lineup permanent? • Defensive versatility #saints #neworleanssaints #whodat #nfl #nfloffseason #otas...
May 23, 2025•30 min
The NFL announced Tuesday that its players would be allowed to play in flag football at the L.A. Olympics in 2028. Our Saints Insiders commemorate the occasion by drafting Saints players to form the best flag football team. Which team do you like: Rod Walker, Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras or Jeff Duncan? Also, we talk about the Saints' first OTA and what we're watching as the offseason churns along. #saints #whodat #neworleanssaints #flagfootball #nfl #olympics #la2028
May 21, 2025•37 min
The New Orleans Saints have their 2025 schedule, and we have our W and L cards. We're ready to go game by game with our first predictions of how the Saints' season will play out this fall, starting with the opener in the Superdome against the Arizona Cardinals all the way through the Week 18 finale in Atlanta. Our Saints Insiders — beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras, columnist Jeff Duncan and editor Zach Ewing — also give their big-picture thoughts on the schedule and what it might mean...
May 15, 2025•59 min
After the surprise retirement of Derek Carr, the New Orleans Saints are left with three young quarterbacks without an NFL win among them: rookie Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. Our Saints Insider crew breaks down more about the Carr retirement, how he'll be remembered in New Orleans, our expectations for Shough and whether the Saints might look to add a veteran quarterback. Also, we talk 2025 NFL schedule release. What should the young Saints hope for? What do we expect? Is this r...
May 13, 2025•36 min
The New Orleans Saints host their rookie minicamp this weekend, and there's plenty to pay attention to. Our Saints Insiders offer a preview, with discussions on: • How the new coaching staff interacts with players • Tyler Shough and how he can continue to press the right buttons • Where is Kelvin Banks going to line up, and what does it mean for the O-line shuffle? • The defensive scheme and the answers we might get this weekend • Which UDFAs to keep an eye on #saints #neworleanssaints #whodat #...
May 07, 2025•46 min
As the dust settles on the 2025 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints' roster is left with some obvious holes in several spots, particularly wide receiver, edge rusher and cornerback. Times-Picayune beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras host the Saints Insiders today with a look at how the Saints could go about filling those holes with their remaining $27 million salary cap space, some of which can be used in the free agent market. Specifically, Luke and Matt discuss the possibility of players...
May 02, 2025•34 min
The New Orleans Saints had a drama-filled NFL draft weekend, between their second-round choice of quarterback Tyler Shough and their starting quarterback, Derek Carr, finally revealing some details about his shoulder injury during a sermon at a Las Vegas church service. What does it all mean? And did the Saints get better during the draft? Our Saints Insiders break it down, with beat writer Matthew Paras and columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker joining host Zach Ewing for reaction to Carr's com...
Apr 30, 2025•50 min
Our Saints Insider crew of Rod Walker, Luke Johnson, Matthew Paras and host Zach Ewing goes through the NFL Draft, pick by pick until the New Orleans Saints' turn at No. 14. Who will we take first overall? What big trade is coming? And ultimately, who is left for the Saints to choose from? With the draft two days away, we also offer our final thoughts and predictions for draft day. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR DRAFT GIVEAWAY: Subscribe to Saints on NOLA.com YouTube channel and comment on two separate vide...
Apr 23, 2025•51 min
The New Orleans Saints have the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night, so our Saints Insiders — beat writer Matthew Paras, columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker and editor Zach Ewing — underwent a fun exercise to examine the pool of players the Saints could be choosing from. Each of us separately picked nine players (excluding the apparent top 3 picks of Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter). On this show, we compare our lists, starting with the players on everyone's list and mo...
Apr 18, 2025•47 min
Reports surfaced Friday that New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has a shoulder injury that may require surgery and cost him the 2025 season. Our Saints Insider crew — Times-Picayune beat writer Matthew Paras, columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker and editor Zach Ewing — breaks down the situation, including the timing, who's telling how much of the truth and what it means for the Saints and Carr in 2025 and moving forward. #saints #whodat #neworleanssaints #derekcarr #nfl #nfldraft...
Apr 15, 2025•42 min
If there's a skill-position player NFL teams are all coveting in the top 10 of the NFL Draft, it's Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. If he's still available as the Saints' pick at No. 9 approaches, should New Orleans trade up and get him? Is he a no-brainer if he happens to fall to No. 9? Our Saints Insiders — Times-Picayune columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker and host Zach Ewing — go through the possibilities and also examine some other skill players whom the Saints might consider, like...
Apr 09, 2025•35 min
The New Orleans Saints hold the No. 9 pick in the first round of this month's NFL draft. Our Saints Insider team — beat writer Luke Johnson, columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker and editor Zach Ewing — goes through various scenarios that would leave the Saints with different choices with that pick. Here's what we think they'll do and what we do in each of them, as well as which one is the most advantageous for the Saints. #saints #whodat #whodatnation #neworleanssaints #nfldraft #nfl #mockdraft...
Apr 04, 2025•38 min
Several recent mock drafts have the Saints either taking a quarterback with the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, or trading for another pick to take a QB. Is there fire to this smoke? Our Saints Insiders — Times-Picayune beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras and columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker — take on that question. How realistic is it for the Saints to take a quarterback? What does that mean for the future of Derek Carr in New Orleans, both in 2025 and beyond? If they do acquire ...
Apr 02, 2025•51 min
The Saints Insider hits the road with a show from Baton Rouge after LSU's pro day, featuring offensive lineman Will Campbell, who could be a fit for the Saints' much-maligned offensive line. Is Campbell a tackle or a guard at the NFL level? And which do the Saints want to fill, given the other players they have to move around? Times-Picayune beat writer Matthew Paras and editor Zach Ewing discuss the issue, as well as an update on where the Saints have been checking out other schools' pro days a...
Mar 26, 2025•24 min
One week into the NFL's new league year, our Saints Insiders take stock of what the New Orleans Saints have done thus far in free agency. Times-Picayune beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras and editor Zach Ewing break down: • What we've liked • What we didn't • Favorite under-the-radar move • Whether we're more optimistic than we were when the season ended • Cam Jordan's pay cut: Act of kindness or a Saints' leverage play? #saints #neworleanssaints #nfl #Nfloffseason #nflfreeagency...
Mar 19, 2025•48 min
The New Orleans Saints are being mentioned as a possibility for Cooper Kupp, the big-name wide receiver who hit the market yesterday as a free agent. The former All-Pro would instantly increase the ceiling of the Saints' receiving corp, but he'd also be expensive — at least against the backdrop of the Saints' salary cap concerns — and is aging and injury prone. Our Saints Insiders — beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras and columnist Jeff Duncan — discuss the chances of Kupp landing in New...
Mar 14, 2025•41 min
As the 2025 NFL league year begins, the Saints Insiders convene. In this episode, Times-Picayune beat writers Luke Johnson and Matthew Paras, columnist Rod Walker and editor Zach Ewing discuss the New Orleans Saints' relatively active start to free agency and what it says about the team's general plan. Included: • Thumbs up or thumbs down on the big deals: Chase Young, Justin Reid, Juwan Johnson • Are the Saints really running it back with a roster that went 5-12? • What holes are left, and wher...
Mar 12, 2025•41 min
The NFL's new league year starts Wednesday, and so the New Orleans Saints must get their salary under the $279.2 million cap. That will include contract restructures for quarterback Derek Carr and other veterans, and the result will decide how active the Saints can be in free agency and thus the direction of the franchise under new coach Kellen Moore. Our Saints Insider crew discusses that direction, plus their takeaways from the NFL Combine and what the Saints might be looking for in the NFL dr...
Mar 06, 2025•42 min
New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Kellen Moore said this week at the NFL Combine that they plan to enter the 2025 season with Derek Carr as their starting quarterback, ending speculation about the QB's future and the direction of the franchise. Our Saints Insiders — NOLA.com columnists Jeff Duncan and Rod Walker and editor Zach Ewing — dig into the decision, as well as Loomis' comments that the Saints plan to be "active" in the upcoming free agency period. Also disc...
Feb 27, 2025•34 min
Join the Saints Insider crew live as they react to the announcement that former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley is joining Kellen Moore's staff as the next defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints. Times-Picayune columnist Jeff Duncan, beat writers Matthew Paras and Luke Johnson and editor Zach Ewing react live to the news, including a look at Staley's past, how he can help Moore and how he might change the Saints' D. #saints #whodat #neworleanssaints #nfl #nflcoaches #char...
Feb 21, 2025•42 min
New Saints coach Kellen Moore has nearly finalized his offensive staff, zeroing in on Doug Nussmeier as offensive coordinator and hiring several assistants. The biggest decision left on that side of the ball, of course, is what to do with quarterback Derek Carr. While he has struggled with injuries and consistency, Carr has been mostly productive and is by far the most reliable quarterback on the Saints' roster. However, he also carries a huge salary cap hit and has a no-trade clause. Our Saints...
Feb 19, 2025•44 min
