The New Orleans Saints have been a team walking on a tightrope since the offseason. With the retirement of veteran quarterback Derek Carr, many analysts wrote them off before the 2025 campaign even kicked off. National outlets dropped the Saints deep down their power rankings, predicting a painful rebuilding year. But New Orleans has other ideas. This franchise, proud of its history and hungry for a resurgence, is quietly fighting back. And in a flurry of roster moves ahead of Week 3, the Saints may have just made one of their sneakiest yet most important signings of the season.
The headline move? The Saints re-signed wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr., a player who might not be a household name, but one who could prove vital as the team searches for new offensive playmakers. While some fans shrugged at the announcement, others see this as the start of New Orleans rebuilding its passing attack piece by piece.
Life After Carr: The Rattler Era Begins
Losing Derek Carr wasn’t just losing a quarterback. It was losing a voice, a leader, and the face of the franchise for the past two seasons. Many assumed the Saints would make a splashy move, perhaps trade for a big-name quarterback or draft a star in the first round. Instead, they rolled the dice on Spencer Rattler, a young gunslinger with talent, swagger, and more doubters than believers.
Through two weeks, Rattler has shown flashes of exactly why New Orleans trusted him. In Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, he came close to orchestrating a late-game comeback, but the Saints fell just short. Week 2 brought even more reason for optimism — Rattler looked sharp, confident, and even “magnificent” at times against a powerhouse San Francisco 49ers defense. While the Saints didn’t win, Rattler proved he belongs in the league.
But one problem remains painfully clear: Rattler doesn’t have enough weapons.
Olave, Kamara… and Who Else?
Chris Olave has been everything the Saints hoped for since drafting him, a smooth route runner who can torch defenses deep. Alvin Kamara continues to be Kamara — versatile, dynamic, and capable of breaking a game open at any moment. But beyond those two, the offense is thin.
Juwan Johnson has emerged as a reliable tight end option, but after him the cupboard has been alarmingly bare. Defenses know it, too, often locking onto Olave while daring New Orleans to beat them elsewhere. That’s why Kevin Austin Jr.’s return, while understated, could carry much bigger implications.
Kevin Austin Jr.: More Than Depth
Austin isn’t just a filler name from the practice squad. He’s a receiver with size, speed, and untapped upside. Last season, he appeared in eight games, recording 11 catches for 151 yards. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, his flashes of separation and toughness after the catch left Saints coaches impressed.
At 6’2”, Austin brings a different dimension to the receiver room — a physical target who can work the sidelines and stretch defenses vertically. He’s not expected to suddenly become a Pro Bowler, but in an offense desperate for someone beyond Olave to step up, Austin has an open runway.
More importantly, his timing couldn’t be better. Rattler has been steadily building chemistry with his weapons, and adding another option he can trust will only speed up his growth. Don’t be shocked if Austin quickly becomes Rattler’s safety valve in big moments.
More Roster Shuffling: Welch and Diggs Elevated
Austin wasn’t the only move the Saints made. The team also elevated tight end Treyton Welch and defensive end Fadil Diggs to the active roster, while waiving tight end Moliki Matavao.
Welch, though unproven at the NFL level, has shown enough in practices to earn a shot. His versatility as both a blocker and a pass-catcher gives New Orleans flexibility in their tight end sets.
Then there’s Diggs. If the preseason was any indication, Diggs is a name to watch. He flashed disruptive ability rushing off the edge, and while he may start in a rotational role, don’t be surprised if he earns more snaps as the season progresses. The Saints’ defense has been inconsistent at times, and Diggs’ motor could be exactly what they need.
The Bigger Picture: A Team Refusing to Fold
Critics may look at these roster tweaks and shrug. But inside the locker room, these moves signal one thing: the Saints are not giving up. This is a team embracing the grind, willing to shuffle the roster until they find the right formula.
Head coach Dennis Allen knows his job is tied to progress this season. General manager Mickey Loomis understands that New Orleans can’t afford to slip into irrelevance in a competitive NFC South. And the players? They’re hungry.
Week 3 against the New England Patriots looms large. The Saints are still searching for their first win of the season, and while nobody expects perfection, the team knows urgency is key. Another loss could create doubts, but a win — fueled by new blood like Austin and Diggs — could ignite a spark.
Why Fans Should Care
It’s easy to overlook roster moves like re-signing Kevin Austin Jr. But football isn’t always about the stars. Sometimes it’s about the grinders, the players who step in when others can’t, and who seize their moment.
Austin may not transform the Saints’ offense overnight, but he represents something bigger: resilience. He’s a reminder that this team is still building, still fighting, and still determined to surprise the doubters who left them for dead after Carr’s retirement.
And if Spencer Rattler continues to grow, Olave keeps producing, Kamara does his magic, and Austin finds a groove? Suddenly, New Orleans might not look like a bottom-tier team anymore. They might look like a dangerous underdog ready to punch above its weight.
Final Word
The Saints’ decision to re-sign Kevin Austin Jr. may not dominate national headlines, but in the heart of New Orleans, it’s a move that matters. Add in Treyton Welch, Fadil Diggs, and the steady rise of Spencer Rattler, and you have a team slowly, quietly, and stubbornly putting the pieces together.
The critics said this would be a lost season. The Saints are saying otherwise.
And if Austin delivers even a fraction of what the Saints believe he can? Week 3 could be the beginning of a very different story in the Big Easy.
