Feb. 9, 2026, 12:02 p.m. CT

Where do the New Orleans Saints place in the post-Super Bowl NFL power rankings? We’re fully shifting gears to the offseason, and the Saints have a lot of work to do. Most outlets still have New Orleans in the NFC South’s basement, which isn’t as far off from their rivals as you may think. We’ve collected the results from ESPN, FOX Sports, and Sporting News to find where the Saints rank not just in the NFL but in the NFC South, too.

While a panel of 80 writers, editors, and TV personalities ranked the Saints at No. 26 (and lowest in the division), ESPN’s Katherine Terrell sees plenty to build off of:

The Saints had momentum at the end of the season, winning four of their last five games thanks to rookie quarterback Tyler Shough and strong performances from defensive players such as defensive end Chase Young. Now, they need to keep that energy going in coach Kellen Moore’s second season. Offense will be a priority, as they look to add more playmakers after losing several players to trades, releases and injuries. In 2025, the Saints were 28th in rushing yards per game (94.3) and tied for 27th in yards per play (5.0).

FOX Sports also put the Saints at No. 26 and last in the division, with Ralph Vacchiano writing:

Kellen Moore and QB Tyler Shough generated a lot of excitement about their future with a four-game winning streak in December. One look at who they played in that stretch, though, shows they’ve still got a long way to go.

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As for the Sporting News? Here’s the take from SN’s Vinnie Iyer, who ranked them at No. 25:

The Saints will hope to have a big second-year breakthrough with Tyler Shough under Kellen Moore and they have a shot at winning the division with key defensive improvements.

And here’s how the NFC South shook out, ranked by their averages:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 20 (ESPN: 17; FOX Sports: 20; Sporting News: 23)Atlanta Falcons: 22 (ESPN: 24; FOX Sports: 18; Sporting News: 24)Carolina Panthers: 24 (ESPN: 22; FOX Sports: 24; Sporting News: 26)New Orleans Saints: 25.7 (ESPN: 26; FOX Sports: 26; Sporting News: 25)

It’s awfully messy to see the Saints ranked behind a Panthers team they swept, especially with Carolina having made the playoffs ahead of both the Bucs and Falcons, each of whom had major shakeups to their coaching staffs. There’s a lot of unknown quantities in the NFC South as we turn our attention to 2026. As far as the Saints are concerned, it’s an opportunity to surprise some people.