Beyond the Chaos: Why the Saints’ 2025 Schedule Matters for Louisiana Fans

With all of the turmoil the New Orleans Saints have gone through this offseason, there's actually one positive that has been overshadowed. This downplayed fact may actually have the biggest impact on the Saints' 2025 season.

While the Saints may feel like they went through a meat grinder over the last 3 months, they still have to get ready to play this year. The team has been going through some weird moves, many of which are of their own doing. But they've also been handed some shocks along the way.

A Look Back at the New Orleans Saints Offseason Chaos

We actually need to go back November of 2024 to watch the first domino on this offseason fall. The Saints fired Head Coach Dennis Allen in the first week of November, after the team lost seven games in a row. To replace Allen, the team waited all the way until after the Super Bowl to name first time coach Kellen Moore their new Head Coach.

On top of that, the Saints had another year of horrific salary cap issues. They kicked the can down the road again, by restructuring a bunch of contracts. Which included the contract of quarterback Derek Carr, signaling he was going to be a part of the team moving forward.

As the NFL Draft approached, the team had rumors swirling that they were going to spend their first round pick on a quarterback. At the time, the theory was that draft pick would be the long term solution, and would sit behind Derek Carr to learn.

Then a rumor came out that Derek Carr was dealing with an injury that could cost him the whole 2025 season. That led to a bunch of fighting over which QB it would or wouldn't be, and turned out it didn't matter, because the Saints drafted a tackle in the first round.

Quarterback Carousel and Free Agency for the Saints

But by the second round, the Saints did take a QB. They took mature college senior Tyler Shough from Louisville in the second round. Which seemed "off" at best with what the Saints were sitting on.

Then the other shoe dropped, and Derek Carr announced his shock retirement.

Carr's retirement left the Saints with two inexperienced quarterbacks in Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener, and rookie Tyler Shough. All three quarterbacks are roughly the same age, with Shough being a year older than Rattler, even though Rattler has a whole year of NFL experience and Shough is a rookie.

The team missed out on free agents, or didn't even try to get them, because of their salary cap concerns. They resigned some players, and brought in a couple. The only notable free agents brought in were aging wide receiver Brandin Cooks (returning to NOLA) and safety Justin Reid.

The Saints' offseason was given a D- grade from Pro Football Focus, which is about what most fans would probably say too.

The Unseen Advantage: An Easy Schedule for the New Orleans Saints

But the big thing that is flying under-the-radar that will be more helpful for the Saints than any free agent or draft pick, is actually their schedule.

The New Orleans Saints have the second easiest schedule in 2025, based on the combined 2024 records of their opponents. That includes seven teams who had 5 or less wins in 2024, and only 4 teams that made the playoffs.

This sets up for a good year for the Saints. Well, if they had a strong presence at quarterback and veteran coach. But in the situation they're in, many don't believe the Saints can get to .500, even with this schedule.

Sports Illustrated puts the Saints projected win total at 6.5 games, and says to take the "under" on that total.

If Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough show any level of chemistry and performance this year, the path is set for the Saints to have a great year against this schedule. But without proof, it looks like the Saints regular season could be as choppy as their offseason.