By Gee Bino | The Who Dat Daily

The Saints breakout candidates could help turn a promising offseason into a winning season. Head coach Kellen Moore has built the roster around rising quarterback Tyler Shough, several key second-year players, and a talented 2026 draft class. Therefore, this training camp will be about more than filling the final roster spots.

The New Orleans Saints need young players to become real contributors. Fortunately, several candidates have the talent and opportunity to make that leap.

These five players have the clearest paths toward breakout performances.

---

Saints Breakout Candidates at a Glance

Player	Position	Primary opportunity	Breakout confidence
Jordyn Tyson	Wide receiver	Win the WR2 position	9/10
Jonas Sanker	Safety/STAR	Become a defensive centerpiece	9/10
Oscar Delp	Tight end	Earn a role in 12 personnel	7/10
Christen Miller	Defensive tackle	Join the main defensive rotation	8/10
Barion Brown	Receiver/returner	Transform field position	7/10

Each player offers something different. However, all five can address an important need for the Saints.

---

1. Jordyn Tyson Leads the Saints Breakout Candidates

The opportunity could not be clearer for Jordyn Tyson.

The Saints selected him eighth overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Therefore, he was not brought to New Orleans to spend his rookie season watching from the sideline.

Tyson enters training camp with a direct path to the WR2 role opposite Chris Olave.

Olave’s speed and route running force defenses to protect the deep areas of the field. Meanwhile, Tyson can attack intermediate zones, work through traffic, and punish defenses for shifting coverage toward Olave.

At 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds, Tyson provides useful size. He also produced at a high level for Arizona State. Over his college career, he recorded 158 receptions for 2,282 yards and 22 touchdowns. His official draft profile also notes that he earned third-team All-America honors in consecutive seasons.

Still, Tyson’s breakout will depend on more than physical talent.

Rookie receivers must learn how NFL defenses disguise coverage. They must also adjust routes based on leverage. Additionally, they must develop precise timing with their quarterback.

Tyson has the intelligence and route-running ability to handle those demands. More importantly, he has a quarterback willing to trust young playmakers.

If Tyson stays healthy, he should leave camp as the clear second option in the Saints passing game.

Breakout projection: Tyson wins the WR2 job and becomes a major red-zone target.

---

2. Jonas Sanker Could Thrive in the STAR Role

Jonas Sanker already delivered an impressive rookie season. Now, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley may place even more responsibility on him.

Sanker played in all 17 games and started 16 at free safety. He finished fourth on the team with 78 tackles. He also recorded two interceptions, six pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. His official player profile confirms that he tied for the team lead with three takeaways.

Those numbers created a strong foundation. However, Sanker’s move toward the STAR role could reveal his full potential.

The STAR is a hybrid defender. He must cover slot receivers, support the run, pressure quarterbacks, and communicate with the rest of the secondary.

Sanker appears built for that assignment.

At 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds, he has enough size to handle contact near the line. Additionally, he has the range to recover in coverage. His tackling ability also allows Staley to use him as an extra run defender.

The position should create more opportunities for impact plays. Instead of waiting deep for the play to reach him, Sanker can attack from multiple alignments.

However, the role also carries risk. One missed assignment in the slot can create an easy touchdown. Therefore, Sanker must prove that his mental processing matches his physical aggression.

If he handles those duties, he could become the most important player in the New Orleans secondary.

Breakout projection: Sanker becomes the full-time STAR and approaches 100 tackles.

---

3. Oscar Delp Gives Kellen Moore Another Weapon

Among the five Saints breakout candidates, Oscar Delp may have the most flexible offensive role.

The rookie tight end enters a room that already features Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant. Therefore, Delp may not lead the position in targets. Still, his versatility could earn him immediate snaps.

The Saints selected Delp with the 73rd overall pick after a productive career at Georgia. He played in 55 games with 34 starts. Additionally, he finished with 70 receptions, 854 yards, and nine touchdowns.

Delp also tested well. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash and posted a 38-inch vertical leap. The team’s draft breakdown highlights his athletic ability and three-down potential.

However, Delp’s blocking may determine how quickly he gets onto the field.

If he can hold up as an in-line blocker, Moore can use him without revealing the play call. Delp could stay in to block, release into the middle, or shift across the formation before the snap.

That flexibility becomes especially valuable in 12 personnel, which uses one running back and two tight ends.

For example, Johnson can align in the slot while Delp starts beside the tackle. Meanwhile, Fant can stretch the seam or move outside. The same personnel package could produce several different formations.

As a result, defenses may struggle to match their coverage personnel to the Saints’ formation.

Breakout projection: Delp earns a weekly offensive role and becomes a reliable middle-of-the-field target.

---

4. Christen Miller Can Reshape the Defensive Front

The Saints used the 42nd overall pick on Christen Miller because the defensive line needed more strength and disruption.

Miller arrives from Georgia at 6-foot-3 and 321 pounds. He started all 14 games in 2025 and generated 23 quarterback hurries. Moreover, he earned first-team All-SEC honors.

His role may begin as part of a rotation. However, he has the physical tools to earn much more.

The interior competition includes Bryan Bresee, Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd, and second-year tackle Vernon Broughton. Each player offers a different skill set.

Miller’s advantage is his blend of power and quickness.

He can absorb contact from guards and centers without losing his position. Meanwhile, his first step allows him to penetrate gaps before blocks fully develop. That combination can disrupt running plays even when Miller does not make the tackle.

Additionally, Miller already understands many of the front concepts used by Staley. After the draft, he said the defensive system felt similar to what he played at Georgia. The Saints’ draft recap detailed that connection.

Miller does not need to become a dominant pass rusher immediately. Instead, he must establish himself as a dependable run defender.

If he does that, Staley will find ways to keep him on the field.

Breakout projection: Miller becomes a core rotational defender and pushes for a starting role.

---

5. Barion Brown Could Change Games Immediately

Barion Brown may not begin camp with a starting offensive role. Nevertheless, he can still become one of the most exciting Saints breakout candidates.

The sixth-round pick brings rare speed and elite return production.

Brown ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. More importantly, he returned six kickoffs for touchdowns during his college career. That set an SEC career record and left him one touchdown short of the NCAA record.

Across four seasons with Kentucky and LSU, Brown averaged 29.4 yards per kickoff return. He also produced 175 receptions for 2,060 yards and 12 touchdowns. His official Saints profile details his impact on offense and special teams.

Therefore, Brown should receive every opportunity to win the primary return job.

The NFL’s kickoff format rewards players who can find a crease and accelerate through it. Brown can do both. One clean block could be enough for him to flip the field.

His offensive role will take more time. However, Moore can create simple touches for him.

Jet sweeps, receiver screens, quick motions, and designed reverses would allow Brown to use his speed without mastering the entire route tree. Those plays could also force defenses to widen their alignment.

As a result, Brown’s presence could create more space for Travis Etienne Jr., Alvin Kamara, and the inside passing game.

Breakout projection: Brown wins the return job and earns a package of designed offensive touches.

---

Film Room: How the Saints Can Use These Breakout Players

The most interesting part of this group is how the pieces fit together.

On offense, Tyson can align outside and force the cornerback to respect his route running. Meanwhile, Delp can shift between an in-line position and the slot. Brown can then motion across the formation.

That movement forces the defense to communicate.

If a defender follows Brown, the coverage may be man-to-man. However, if the defense passes him across the formation, Shough may identify zone coverage.

Therefore, the motions do more than create touches. They also help the quarterback diagnose the defense.

On the other side, Sanker can provide the same type of disguise for Staley. He can begin deep, move into the slot, or attack the line of scrimmage.

Meanwhile, Miller’s interior power can occupy blockers. That could create cleaner pressure lanes for Sanker, Chase Young, or Carl Granderson.

Individually, these players offer upside. Together, they give the Saints more tactical flexibility.

---

Big Q’s Take

The Saints do not need every young player to become a star this season. However, they need several of them to become dependable contributors.

Tyson has the clearest path to immediate production. The eighth overall pick should become the WR2 unless injuries slow his development.

Sanker may have the highest defensive ceiling. His move to STAR could place him near the football on almost every snap.

Meanwhile, Miller could become the quiet key to the defensive front. If he controls the middle, the edge rushers will receive better matchups.

Delp and Brown may have smaller early roles. Still, both can change how opponents prepare for the offense and special teams.

Ultimately, this group represents the new direction of the New Orleans Saints. The roster is younger, faster, and more versatile.

Now those traits must translate into production.

---

Why These Saints Breakout Candidates Matter

The Saints breakout candidates will influence more than the final depth chart.

Tyson could determine whether defenses can continue focusing most of their coverage on Olave. Sanker could decide whether the STAR position becomes a strength. Miller could improve the run defense. Delp could expand the personnel packages. Brown could transform field position.

Additionally, their development would reduce pressure on expensive veterans.

That matters because sustainable teams receive meaningful production from players on rookie contracts. Therefore, the Saints need their recent draft classes to form the foundation of the roster.

Training camp will provide the first real test.

The opportunity is available. Now these five players must take it.

Overall prediction: At least three of the five will earn major weekly roles during the 2026 season.

Confidence: 8 out of 10.

---

Gee Bino is a senior writer and columnist for The Who Dat Daily, covering the New Orleans Saints, Pelicans, LSU athletics, and the Gulf South sports landscape. He specializes in roster construction, player development, salary cap strategy, and breaking news coverage. Follow The Who Dat Daily for daily news, analysis, and exclusive team coverage.

Can the Saints Really Have the NFL’s Next Breakout Offense? – The Who Dat Daily