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May

14

From the Westbank: First Look at the Saints 2026 Schedule — And Yeah… This One Won’t Be Easy

Alright Who Dat Nation… now that the schedule is out, you can officially start circling dates and arguing about wins and losses.

And first impression?

This schedule feels like a season that’s gonna tell us exactly who the Saints are.


The Good

There are opportunities early.

  • Home opener against Detroit
  • A very manageable stretch before the bye
  • Some young teams mixed in
  • A few games the Saints absolutely SHOULD compete in

If this team starts fast, confidence could build quickly.


The Tough Part

That middle-to-late stretch gets serious.

  • Panthers twice late
  • Packers in December
  • Road games at Atlanta and Tampa
  • Steelers in Paris (which is just weird enough to scare me)
  • And Seattle/Chicago style cold-weather football late in the year always matters

That’s where depth and quarterback play get tested.


Games Tony Already Has Circled

🔥 Week 4 at Atlanta (MNF)
You already know what that means. Throw records out.

🔥 Week 7 vs Steelers in Paris
One of the strangest Saints games ever scheduled. 8:30 AM football with the black and gold in France? Only the NFL could come up with this.

🔥 Week 13 vs Green Bay
Feels like one of those “prove who you are” games.

🔥 Final stretch vs Falcons and Bucs
Could easily decide the division.


What This Schedule Tells Me

The NFL clearly thinks the Saints are interesting again.

Prime time. International game. Better time slots. Bigger matchups.

That usually means:
👉 the league believes the Saints could matter this year

Now the question becomes:
Can the Saints actually take the next step?

Because looking at this schedule honestly…
I see:

  • talent
  • opportunities
  • but also very little room for inconsistency

Tony’s Early Prediction?

If the quarterback situation stabilizes and the young weapons hit early, this team can absolutely compete for the division.

But if the offense struggles out the gate?
This schedule could get ugly fast.

Right now?

I see a team somewhere around:
👉 8–9 wins if things break right
👉 fighting for meaningful football in December

And honestly… after the last couple years, Saints fans would take that while this young core develops.

One thing’s for sure:
The Dome better be loud again this season.

Who Dat.

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank

May

14

2026 Who Dat!

May

11

From the Westbank: Early Returns on Jordyn Tyson Are Looking Good

Alright Who Dat Nation… it’s only rookie minicamp, so nobody needs to start printing Hall of Fame jackets yet.

But let’s be honest — it’s better hearing “he looks the part” than hearing nothing at all.

Early reports out of Saints rookie minicamp say first-round pick Jordyn Tyson made a strong first impression, and honestly, that’s exactly what you wanted to hear after the Saints used the 8th overall pick on him. ()

Saints receivers coach Keith Williams basically described Tyson as checking every box:

  • size
  • speed
  • hands
  • athleticism
  • run-after-catch ability

And maybe the biggest compliment? He looked comfortable right away. ()

One report even said if you walked onto the practice field without knowing anybody’s name, Tyson would’ve immediately looked like the first-round pick. ()

That matters.

Because after the draft, a lot of fans — myself included — questioned whether the Saints should’ve gone defense instead. Passing on some of the defenders still on the board was a gamble.

But now you can at least start seeing what the Saints front office saw:
👉 explosiveness
👉 confidence
👉 someone who can help this offense immediately

And let’s be real — this offense needed juice.

Now does rookie minicamp guarantee success? Absolutely not.

We’ve all seen “camp stars” disappear once the real games start. But first impressions matter, especially for a player expected to contribute right away.

The good news?
Tyson doesn’t look overwhelmed. He looks like he belongs.

And for Saints fans looking for signs this offense is heading in the right direction… that’s a pretty good start.

Who Dat.

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank

May

04

From the Westbank: Zxavian Harris — High Upside, Real Questions

Alright Who Dat Nation… this is one of those moves that makes you think a little deeper.

The Saints signing Zxavian Harris as an undrafted free agent isn’t about headlines — it’s about taking a calculated risk.

And let’s be honest… it is a risk.


The Football Side

On paper, this looks like a steal.

  • 6’7”–6’8”, around 330 pounds
  • Projected mid-round draft pick
  • Versatility across the defensive line
  • Run-stuffer with real size and upside

This is the kind of guy who normally doesn’t last past Day 3. Some boards even had him as a top-100 talent before he went undrafted.

Pair him with Christen Miller, and you can already see what the Saints are trying to do:

👉 Get bigger, more physical, harder to run against

That part makes sense.


The Reality (And Why He Was Undrafted)

Let’s not dance around it.

Harris didn’t go undrafted because of talent.

He fell because of off-field issues, including multiple arrests over the last couple years.

That’s why this move isn’t just about football — it’s about culture, accountability, and trust.


What This Tells Me About the Saints

This is actually a pretty clear signal.

The Saints are saying:

👉 “We’ll take the talent — but you better fall in line.”

They’re betting that:

  • their locker room can handle it
  • their coaching staff can guide it
  • and the player can stay focused

That’s not a small bet.


Tony’s Take

I like the move… with caution.

If Harris:

  • stays out of trouble
  • buys into the system
  • and plays disciplined football

This could end up being one of the best value pickups of the entire offseason.

But if not?

He won’t last long.


Bottom Line

This is classic UDFA football.

Low risk.
High upside.
Short leash.

And honestly… this is how good teams find hidden pieces.

Now it’s on him.

Who Dat.

Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank


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