Who stepped up the most in 2025? Our New Orleans Saints Team Awards continue with staff picks for this year’s Most Improved Player. The Saints underwent big changes on both sides of the ball last season, installing new playbooks to run Kellen Moore’s offense and Brandon Staley’s defense. And some players really benefited from those schematic changes. Here are our picks for which players showed the most improvement in 2025.
Isaiah Stalbird
Aug 14, 2025; Carson, CA, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker Isaiah Stalbird (44) during a joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams at the Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
After spending most of his rookie year on the practice squad and playing in just five games, Stalbird carved out a bigger role in 2025. He played in all 17 contests, playing 358 special teams snaps and another 64 on defense. Stalbird was explosive in both areas, playing like a heat-seeking missile to the ball. On defense, he had 2 sacks and 4 pressures while having another couple of big plays nullified by penalty. — Bob Rose
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Kool-Aid McKinstry
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 28: Jonas Sanker #33 and Kool-Aid McKinstry #4 of the New Orleans Saints react after a defensive stop during the fourth quarter of the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
Another defensive player, this time in the secondary, who deserves immense praise for their 2025. While McKinstry will go a bit under the radar on a national scale, he really proved he could be at minimum a starting outside corner, if not a dominant No. 1. — Jeremy Trottier
Nathan Shepherd
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Nathan Shepherd #93 of the New Orleans Saints reacts against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Nathan Shepherd quietly became one of the most impactful interior defenders on the roster. More than anyone else inside, he was a consistent plus player at his position, regularly generating pressure and disrupting opposing offenses. — Luke Loffredo
Juwan Johnson
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 04: Tyler Shough #6 and Juwan Johnson #83 of the New Orleans Saints react after Shough’s touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Johnson was one of the Saints’ whipping boys in 2024 — there were plenty of those, and for good reason, with New Orleans’ lack of success in almost too many areas to count. He gained more niceties in 2025, though, with more overall production as he made himself a more important and noted player offensively. — Crissy Froyd
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints Team Awards: Which player earned Most Improved in 2025?