A 2025 draft class for the New Orleans Saints helped the team to a strong finish to last season. The Saints 2026 draft added even more to the overall optimism leading into this season for the team. So far, however, this year's rookie class has not made nearly the impact. Their number one pick, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, has yet to see the field. Tyson is expected to get his first NFL action this afternoon when the Saints host the Cleveland Browns. As the 2-5 Saints enter Week 9, here's a look at how their 2026 rookie class have fared so far.
WR Jordyn Tyson (Round 1, 8th overall)
Only Wes Chandler (3rd in 1978) and Larry Burton (7th in 1975) were drafted higher by the Saints at the wideout spot. The former Arizona State Sun Devils star was the second receiver chosen. Expected to add
explosiveness and productivity to the offense for quarterback Tyler Shough, Tyson showed why he was coveted so highly early in training camp. However, a hamstring injury before the second preseason game would land Tyson on injured reserve to start the season.
Shough has built an impressive chemistry with wideouts Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, and tight end Juwan Johnson. All three have come through with big plays, but Tyson's skill set should open up the entire offense. His hamstring injury just adds to the concerns surrounding Tyson's durability coming into the draft. The Saints have treated him with caution so far, but it's time to unwrap Shough's new toy and see what he can do.
DT Christen Miller (Round 2, 42nd overall)
The selection of Miller raised a few eyebrows. It also made a ton of sense. The Saints desperately needed to upgrade the middle of their defense. A 1st Team All-SEC selection with the Georgia Bulldogs, Miller was expected to bolster the interior run defense and add inside pass rush.
Miller has appeared in only four games so far, recording 5 tackles. More concerning is the fact that he's played a total of only 93 defensive snaps, just 32% of the total for the unit through those four contests. Keep in mind that this is for a defense that ranks a pathetic 29th against the run and has gotten zero pass rush production from its interior linemen. Conditioning may be an issue, but it's time to plug Miller in the middle of the defense to see what he can do. It's certainly not like he can do worse than the players at the position who have been playing.
TE Oscar Delp (Round 3, 73rd overall)
Many were surprised when the Saints nabbed Georgia Bulldogs tight end Delp with a third round pick. He's the highest drafted tight end by New Orleans since Cam Cleeland at 40th overall in 1998. Delp wasn't nearly as dynamic as Brock Bowers, the explosive tight end who preceded him at Georgia, but he was a valuable blocker and receiver.
Delp has appeared in six games so far. He's played 111 offensive snaps, 29% of the team's total through those games, but has made only minimal impact. Delp has 4 receptions for 20 yards and has not been utilized nearly as much as was expected as a blocker. The Saints also have Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant at tight end, so a slow statistical start to his career is not surprising. Many thought that New Orleans would use more three tight end sets with three very capable pass catchers at the position, but we've seen very little of that. This is also a Saints offense that's at the bottom of the NFL in running the ball. There just doesn't seem like there was a plan for Delp by coach Kellen Moore.
G Jeremiah Wright (Round 4, 132 overall)
New Orleans seemed to love Wright during the pre-draft process, meeting with him on numerous occasions. The Auburn Tigers mauler was taken off the board with the team's first pick of Day 3. Wright saw little action to start the season behind Cesar Ruiz and David Edwards at guard. When Ruiz went down with a knee injury in the first half of Week 6 against the Giants, Wright played impressive ball in the second half as his replacement. He'd get his first NFL start the following week against Pittsburgh.
Jeremiah Wright is raw. That was exposed against the Steelers. However, he's a powerful run blocker with quick feet to develop in pass protection. The Saints have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. There is no future for Ruiz with this team. Kellen Moore, it's time to let Wright develop on the job the second half of this year.
WR Bryce Lance (Round 4, 136 overall)
It was no surprise that the Saints drafted a second wideout after the selection of Tyson in the first round. Lance was viewed as a raw project coming from a small school in the North Dakota State Bison. However, he also brought explosive abilities and exciting upside. He was expected to have limited usage as a rookie as he developed his route tree and adjusted to NFL coverages.
With the injury to Tyson and abrupt preseason retirement of Ja'Lynn Polk, Lance was pressed into more activity than expected. He's often been the third wideout with Olave and Vele. The Saints have tried to get him involved, targeting him with 22 passes. Lance has come up with just 9 receptions for 78 yards. He pulled in his first NFL touchdown against the Giants. Lance still has a nice upside, but he'll likely get fewer reps with Tyson in the lineup.
S Lorenzo Styles Jr. (Round 5, 172 overall)
It wouldn't be a true Saints draft without selecting an Ohio State Buckeyes player. The most recent Buckeye is Styles, brother of Sonny Styles, the seventh overall choice in the first round. A former wideout at Notre Dame, Lorenzo developed quickly once moving to defensive back at Ohio State.
Lorenzo wasn't expected to have a big role in the Saints secondary as a rookie. He started the year on injured reserve, getting activated in Week 5. Styles has played only two defensive snaps through his three games, but 56 snaps on special teams. He has explosive traits, but may take some time to work into a defensive role. Until then, he could have an impact on the special teams units.
WR Barion Brown (Round 6, 190 overall)
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Saints draft was the selection of a third wide receiver. A playmaker with the LSU Tigers, Brown also had 6 kickoff returns for touchdowns through college. His main expectation was as a returner to replace Rashid Shaheed, traded midway through the 2025 season.
Brown shined as a receiver through preseason and training camp. That hasn't carried over to the season, as he has just 4 receptions for 62 yards. Brown has made an impact as a returner, averaging 9.5 yards on punts and 26.1 on kickoffs. He's set the Saints up in good field position a handful of times with long returns. That will likely be his biggest impact the second half of this season, but Kellen Moore and staff should take the challenge of figuring out ways to utilize the talents of all three of their rookie wide receivers and tight end.
CB TJ Hall (Round 7, 219 overall)
Hall and an up and down preseason. He's been on the New Orleans practice squad all season and has yet to be activated for a game.
RB CJ Donaldson (undrafted free agent)
Donaldson has had the only impact of any Saints undrafted rookie so far. The former Ohio State Buckeyes star has been a pleasant surprise so far. He's been a punishing inside runner, probably the most effective on the team in that capacity. Donaldson has only 17 carries for 81 yards, but has 6 first downs and a team-best 4.8 per carry. A shoulder injury will keep Donaldson out of the Week 9 Cleveland matchup. However, it's telling that even with Donaldson out and Travis Etienne on injured reserve, the Saints still elected to release Kendre Miller. This seems to be a clear indicator that Donaldson is in the team's plans for at least the stretch run.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: New Orleans Saints rookie class must begin to make their mark
