The New Orleans Saints enter the 2026 season amid an ongoing rebuild, with new head coach Kellen Moore taking charge and second-year quarterback Tyler Shough hoping to retain the starting job. The team is coming off a poor 2025 campaign and faces significant uncertainty at quarterback and on the defensive line, leading bettors to view an "under 5.5 wins" projection as realistic for the year ahead.

The Saints finished 5–12 in 2025, missing the play-offs, which prompted a mid-season coaching change and a busy overhaul this off-season. New Orleans hired Moore, re-signed wide receiver Chris Olave through 2030, retained veteran Cameron Jordan, and added running back Travis Etienne Jr., tight end Noah Fant and linebacker Kaden Elliss, while losing Taysom Hill. Concerns remain over the quarterback options (Shough, Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson) and a defensive line ranked 28th in the league by analytics site PFF, though improved play from Etienne alongside Alvin Kamara and defensive end Chase Young could offer some upside.