Feb. 13, 2026, 4:38 p.m. CT

Tyler Shough has given the New Orleans Saints a great platform to build from, as they have now solved both the quarterback and head coach questions in one season. That leaves them with a lot of holes to fill now, as they look to build more in the direction of competing for the division, and in doing so, will need to add some playmakers around Shough.

While Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson have both shown success, and Devaughn Vele has started what looks to be a breakout, they still will need to add more pieces to work with. This could come either in free agency, the draft, or maybe even both, with good options to choose from this offseason.

Greg Auman of Fox Sports believes New Orleans would target former Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen as one of those options, marking him as the No. 81 free agent of the bunch.

Allen, 33, returned to the Chargers in 2025 and still found a way to get 81 catches for 777 yards and four touchdowns. He’s easing into WR3 mode, but has a résumé with 1,000-plus catches and 70 career touchdowns, so he’s a good fit for a team looking for a veteran mentor to pair with a young receiver. That could mean staying with the Chargers, but he’d be a nice value match for the Saints, who could use another playmaker and have Kellen Moore, who had him in 2023.

Prediction: Signs with Saints

Allen would be an extremely fun piece to add to the puzzle that is the New Orleans offense. Having Olave, Vele, and Allen heading into the draft makes things a bit easier, as the Saints can just look to add whoever they consider to be the best player, whether that be at a skills position or otherwise. Carnell Tate would be a fun wide receiver two, and then letting Vele and Allen split the third spot reps would really make Shough’s life easy, while the veteran wideout could teach the younger receivers his ways.

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Even in a season where he only started three of 17 games played, Allen managed to put together some very impressive numbers, so it is clear he could work in whatever role Kellen Moore has planned for him. When the two last worked together with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023, Allen had 1,243 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, so it is clear they would see eye to eye on his role.