Expectations for the New Orleans Saints entering 2024 are tempered. They’re in the midst of a three-year playoff drought and coming off a disappointing 9-8 season in their first year with quarterback Derek Carr.
Here are the franchise’s five most valuable people for 2024, ranked in inverse order:
5. Offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga
The Saints need big things from 2024 first-round pick Taliese Fuaga. So far, he’s delivering.
New Orleans’ offensive line was a weak spot last season, and it had the potential to be much worse without the former Oregon State tackle.
2019 First-Team All-Pro Ryan Ramczyk (knee) will miss the 2024 season after being placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list in July. Trevor Penning, one of the team’s two first-round picks (No. 19 overall) in 2022, was benched after five starts last season and moved to right tackle this offseason to make room for Fuaga.
Per Pro Football Focus, Penning received the third-worst grade among Saints offensive players in the Saints’ 16-14 win over the Cardinals in Week 1 of the preseason. He allowed two pressures in 10 pass-block opportunities and was also flagged for offensive holding.
Fuaga received higher marks, ranking fifth among Saints players as a run- and pass-blocker and allowing zero pressures in 10 opportunities.
The offensive line might not be a strength, but Fuaga could keep it from being a catastrophe.
4. Defensive end Chase Young
Young was the most prominent free-agent addition the Saints made this offseason. New Orleans’ pass-rush was underwhelming in 2023, making the No. 2 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft a potentially valuable asset coming off the edge.
Young earned 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and had a career-high 66 total pressures last season (h/t PFF) but is viewed as someone who hasn’t reached his full NFL potential.
Injuries stalled his career in 2021 and 2022, but at 25, Young has his prime years ahead of him. And playing on a one-year deal, he has plenty of motivation to have a big season in 2024.
Last year, the Saints ranked 28th in sacks and in pressure rate (32.8%), according to Sports Info Solutions data provided by The 33rd Team. If Young plays up to his draft ranking, he’ll turn those numbers around and earn a huge payday in the offseason.
3. Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed
Chris Olave is the team’s best receiver, but Shaheed’s ability to be a difference-maker on special teams as a returner gives him the edge in these rankings.
In 2023, Shaheed was named First-Team All-Pro as a punt returner. With the league’s kickoff rules meant to drive up the rate of kick returns, he should have more opportunities with the ball in his hands.
Shaheed had 18 kick returns for 384 yards last season. He also had 25 punt returns for 339 yards and a touchdown.
As the bona fide No. 2 wideout in the Saints offense, Shaheed should also be a much bigger factor in the passing attack. In 15 games (eight starts) last season, the 2022 undrafted free agent from Weber State had 46 receptions, 719 yards and five touchdowns.
In offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme, Rashid’s route tree will likely expand to include plays that accentuate his speed by getting him the ball in space.
When discussing Kubiak’s potential impact on the Saints offense, fantasy football analyst Jacob Gibbs shared data from Tru Media Sports showing Shaheed had the highest go-route rate last season among receivers who ran at least 350 routes (30.2%).
