New Orleans, Louisiana (KNGT-FM) - It's certainly crazy to think back to where the New Orleans Saints looked just one year ago today. The Saints had fired Dennis Allen midseason, had a trend of a few bad drafts for General Manager Mickey Loomis, and didn't have a lot of promise anywhere.

After the draft, the Saints were graded by many national entities to have had a worse draft than many could have expected. Well, that's why you don't pay attention to what the talking heads have to say.

One year later, New Orleans had one of the best draft classes they've seen in quite some time and found a few promising pieces, including Quarterback Tyler Shough. Now that cap space is free, you have your QB for the near future and pieces to build around moving forward.

READ MORE: New Orleans Saints To Play in Paris in 2026

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Future Is Bright For New Orleans Saints Heading into 2026

By finishing 6-11, the Saints ended up notching 4th place in the NFC South, which also locked them into the 4th place schedule for the 2026 season. That means their 2026 schedule includes several matchups against teams that also struggled this season, giving them a chance to build upon some of the successes they had in 2025 with an easier slate.

Even though 2025 was rough, the NFC South is still a division without a clear favorite. Knowing the full 2026 schedule gives the Saints a head start in planning.

There are still moves that need to be made, and will be made. But with the opponents for 2026 now set, the framework is in place. For a team that���s been rebuilding, fortune may finally be turning in New Orleans’ favor. Now, let's take a look at some of the opponents the Saints will face next season...

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New Orleans Saints v Jacksonville Jaguars
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New Orleans Saints 2026 Opponents

Home Games: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders

Away Games: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants

Best NFL Players Who Are From Louisiana

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