Like with the special teams coverage last season, the return game was nearly as bad. We saw some nice moments from Mason Tipton and Rashid Shaheed. Once Shaheed was traded and Tipton went down with an injury, the Saints had to rely on Dante Pettis, and it was not good.
Clearly, the Saints needed to upgrade their kick/punt return game, and good news: Barion Brown, out of LSU, was one of the best college football returners. He is absolutely dynamic when he has the ball in his hands, and although I do
think he can play at WR if need be, his real impact will be felt on special teams.
Looking ahead to the 53-man roster cuts, the Saints brought in 6 WRs going into the 2025 season, and I would expect that number to be the same this season. The good news is that Brown actually fits really well with this current WR group, and he brings a type of YAC ability the team does not have.
So, if the Saints bring him as one of the 6 WRs, even if he is going to be a primary returner, they will still have a depth WR if need be.
