These Saints could breakout for New Orleans in 2025.
The 2024 season for the New Orleans Saints was disappointing, to say the least. The team was bad enough to end the season with a 5-12 record and finish last in the NFC South, but not bad enough to record a top-five draft pick.
The future for the Saints now relies on their young players stepping up and breaking out. Bryan Bresee had a coming-out year in 2024 for New Orleans, recording 7.5 sacks from the interior defensive line, but the young talent for the Saints majority stayed quiet last season.
Now, in 2025, with a lot of young talent on the roster, the Saints are hoping to find their next breakout stars.
Kool-Aid McKinstry
Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
Second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is the hot name for the Saints. McKinstry has consistently received votes to be the team’s biggest breakout player next season, and it’s no surprise why.
The former Alabama cornerback showed plenty of promise when he was thrown into a starting position as a rookie. While there were rookie mistakes, McKinstry showed out and made New Orleans’ decision to move on from Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo easier.
McKinstry is incredibly disciplined in coverage, keeping his pad level consistent when mirroring the receiver. Where the former second-round pick shines is his high-level football IQ. McKinstry times his plays on the ball at a high level and plays with poise, limiting penalties.
The Saints are banking on a big jump from McKinstry, and despite the pressure on the 2024 41st overall pick, the consensus believes McKinstry will have a breakout year in 2025.
Chase Young
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Despite going into his sixth NFL season, Chase Young is still only 26 years old. The former second overall pick had a promising rookie season with the Washington Commanders, but injuries continuously plagued the 6-foot-5 defensive end’s career early.
The Saints took a shot on Young during the 2024 offseason, signing the free agent edge rusher to a one-year $12 million contract. New Orleans wanted Young to prove to them that he was worth a bigger contract, and Young accepted the challenge.
Looking at the base numbers, Young’s 5.5 sacks were relatively disappointing, and this is true. Young had a problem finishing during the season, but was consistently putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The former Ohio State defensive end finished the season top 10 in QB hurries and was given a three-year $51 million contract from the Saints.
Young opportunities to rush the passer will increase significantly in 2025 under Brandon Staley’s 3-4 defense. With more opportunities, the former first overall pick is primed for a breakout.
Juwan Johnson
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
I’ll be honest, I’m going to sound like a broken record saying 2025 is the season Juwan Johnson finally takes the next step, but I can’t help myself. It was shocking seeing the Saints bring Johnson back on a three-year $30 million contract.
But new head coach Kellen Moore was adamant about keeping the former undrafted free agent on the roster. It was reported that Moore and Johnson sat down before free agency to discuss his role on the offense, and the conversation went on for hours. The new Saints head coach was able to convince the receiver-turned-tight end to stay in New Orleans.
Johnson had an underrated year in 2024, catching 50 passes for 548 yards and 3 touchdowns. The 6-foot-4 receiving threat’s biggest knock is his lack of scores. The Saints are missing a red zone and middle-of-the-field threat, but maybe that’s what Johnson could be in 2025.
In a new offense with a young quarterback, Johnson will likely be a safety blanket at worst but will probably be the team’s ideal receiving machine. Chris Olave has dealt with head injuries throughout his career, which makes his availability questionable, while Rashid Shaheed has been a dominant deep threat, but doesn’t have much of a presence between the hashes.
Johnson has a lot of security going into 2025 under his three-year contract. With the Saints stuck with the former undrafted free agent until 2028, it would be wise for the offense to find a way to make Johnson a dominant presence in New Orleans.
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