Ranking the top receivers for Saints in 2026

NFL free agency tiers: Ranking the top receivers for Saints in 2026

Don’t expect the New Orleans Saints to wait until the 2026 NFL Draft to add another wide receiver. General manager Mickey Loomis always approaches free agency with the idea of plugging holes so he can attack the draft without needing to draft a specific position. So the question is how much he’s willing to spend. With Chris Olave playing on his fifth-year option and a lucrative extension in the works, it could be tough to justify paying top dollar to another wideout. That’s partly why he traded Rashid Shaheed.

But maybe Loomis surprises us. One of the benefits of having a quarterback on a rookie contract (like Tyler Shough) is being able to invest at other position groups. And few things help a quarterback like having a couple of great receivers. Don’t expect the Saints to sign Mike Evans — there’s no way the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let him reach free agency, right? — but we should anticipate some new faces in the receiving room with Olave and Devaughn Vele. Injuries have hammered the depth chart and Kevin Austin Jr. leads the team in routes run in December and January over the last two years (282). If they’re going to try and compete this year, they need more weapons.

With that in mind, here’s a brief primer on the best wide receivers headed for free agency.

Tier 1:George Pickens. Pickens, who turns 25 in March, is a prime candidate to receive the franchise tag if the Dallas Cowboys can’t sign him to an extension. He played his best football this year in Dallas by catching 93 of 131 targets (71%) for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. He had five drops but caught 22 of 39 contested catches (56.4%). Like Olave, he’s going to be seeking more than $30 million per year.Alec Pierce. Pierce, 26 in May, has gotten better each year and then took a big step forward in 2026 with 47 catches on 83 targets (56.6%) for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns. It was his first 1,000-yard season but proved he can be more than a clear-out specialist. He only dropped one pass and caught 14 of 32 contested catches (43.8%). He’ll draw a ton of interest on the open market if the Indianapolis Colts let him go.Deebo Samuel. Samuel, 30, had a solid year with the Washington Commanders after six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He caught 72 of 99 targets (72.7%) for 727 yards and five touchdowns, dropping five passes while going 10-for-19 on contested catches (52.6%). He’s older and may not be as dynamic as the other guys in Tier 1 but could still add a lot to the New Orleans offense.Romeo Doubs. Doubs, 26 in April, has a history of concussions but you can’t argue with consistent production. He averaged more than 45 yards per game in each of the last two years and has caught 21 career touchdown receptions. In 2025 he caught 55 of 85 passes (64.7%) for 724 yards and six touchdowns, dropping four passes while going 13-for-30 on contested catches (43.3%). He’s a good player but may be a little redundant given Olave’s skill set.Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Tier 2:Jauan Jennings. Jennings, 28, is finally reaching free agency after playing on a couple of bargain barrel-contracts with the San Francisco 49ers. He’s one of the NFL’s most physical wide receivers who caught 18 of 34 contested catches (52.9%) this year and 50 of 87 (57.5%) in his career. In total, and including the playoffs, this year Jennings has caught 56 of 91 passes (61.5%) for 688 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s older than most of these guys and it remains to be seen what he’ll command on the open market.Wan’dale Robinson. Robinson, 25, took a big step forward by catching 91 of his 131 targets (70.2%) for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. Last year he caught 93 of 132 targets (70.5%) but gained just 699 yards, with three touchdowns. The New York Giants gave him more opportunities to make plays further downfield, and he rewarded them for it. But he measures in at just 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds so wouldn’t add much diversity to the receiving corps.Rashid Shaheed. Shaheed, 27, is almost certainly going to sign an extension with the Seattle Seahawks or be retained on some kind of tag. But if they don’t, is there a chance he could return to New Orleans? Stranger things have happened. Just don’t hold your breath.Tier 3:Keenan Allen. Allen, 34 in April, showed he can still play after returning to the Los Angeles Chargers this year. He caught 84 of 126 targets (66.7%) for 802 yards and four touchdowns. He also dropped seven passes and went 12-of-25 on contested catches (48%). He isn’t the same Pro Bowler he once was, but he’s also reached a point in his career where he can choose his spots. Maybe he’s more open to reuniting with Kellen Moore now that the Saints have a quarterback.Marquise Brown. Brown, 28, had a solid year with the Kansas City Chiefs. He caught 49 of 72 passes (68.1%) for 587 yards and five touchdowns, dropping just one pass but going 4-for-10 on contested catches (40%). He could be a better backup in New Orleans than other guys on the depth chart but doesn’t offer many physical skills the Saints don’t already have at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds.Jalen Nailor. Nailor, 27 in March, has set a respectable baseline for himself with back-to-back seasons of about 30 yards and 400-plus yards, scoring 10 touchdowns along the way. This year he only dropped a single pass and caught 9 of 12 contested targets (75%). He’s about the same height and weight as Olave (6-foot-0, 190 pounds) but you’d think there’s untapped potential here if he had a better quarterback.

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