Saints Placement in NFL.com Preseason Power Rankings

With the 2023 season just a month away, here's where the Saints stand on the NFL.com preseason power rankings.

NFL.com writer Eric Edholm has released his preseason ''power rankings'' for the 2023 NFL season. Dan Hanzus took on that weekly role for the network for several years, with Edholm now taking on those duties. 

Edholm listed the New Orleans Saints at Number 15 in his first weekly power rankings. He had this to say for his reasoning. 

Alvin Kamara is suspended for the first three games, when the Saints face the Titans, Panthers and Packers. This opening stretch will provide a fascinating look at just how potent New Orelans' offense can be without Kamara. Derek Carr has worked with worse units before. Chris Olave is becoming a star, Rashid Shaheed is making more noise and -- knock on wood -- there's actually some real optimism about Michael Thomas' health. Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller should be able to hold down the RB fort while Kamara is out. If the Saints can go 2-1 or 3-0 without the star back, their chances in NFC South will look remarkably better.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes to running back Alvin Kamara (41) during training camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans is listed as the sixth ranked NFC team by Edholm. Only the Eagles (ranked Number 2), 49ers (3rd), Cowboys (6th), Lions (11th), and Seahawks (14th) were listed ahead of them. The Saints were the top ranked team in the NFC South, coming in ahead of rivals Atlanta (17th), Carolina (26th), and Tampa Bay (30th).

Edholm had the Kansas City Chiefs ranked as his top NFL team. Fellow AFC teams the Bengals (ranked 4th), Bills (5th), Ravens (7th), Jets (8th), Dolphins (9th), Jaguars (10th), Chargers (12th), and Browns (13th) were also listed ahead of New Orleans. 

The Saints finished 7-10 last season. It was their second straight year without a playoff berth and their first double-digit loss campaign since 2005. Entering their second season with head coach Dennis Allen, the franchise had an extremely active offseason. 

Headlined by the signing of QB Derek Carr, New Orleans added veterans like RB Jamaal Williams, TEs Foster Moreau and Jimmy Graham, WR Bryan Edwards, and G Max Garcia on offense. Defensively, the Saints brought in DT Nathan Shepherd, DT Khalen Saunders, and CB/S Lonnie Johnson to an already outstanding unit. Draft picks DT Bryan Bresee, DE Isaiah Foskey, and RB Kendre Miller are also expected to make immediate contributions. 

These newcomers will join an already talented core that includes DEs Cam Jordan and Carl Granderson, LBs Demario Davis and Pete Werner, and defensive backs Marshon Lattimore, Alontae Taylor, Paulson Adebo, Tyrann Mathieu, and Marcus Maye. The new offensive additions will join a terrific cast of Kamara, WRs Thomas, Olave, and Rashid Shaheed, TE Juwan Johnson, and a rugged offensive line.

 

New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during training camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

The Saints kick off their preseason with a home game against the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. This is a team that looks deeper at several positions, making for a fiercely contended training camp. It's also a team that believes that they can contend for another championship now, judging from their offseason moves.

New Orleans looks to have a favorable schedule that contains just four teams that had a winning record in 2022. The Saints open their regular season on September 10th at home against the Tennessee Titans.