New Orleans Saints Latest News: Coaching Changes, Trades, and Future Outlook for the 2025 NFL Season

New Orleans Saints Latest News Update

Here is an in-depth look at the recent major developments surrounding the New Orleans Saints: their roster moves, coaching changes, trade activity, long-term outlook, and what it all means for the franchise’s path forward.

1. Coaching & Leadership Changes

One of the most significant headlines for the Saints in 2025 involves a change in their head coaching position. The Saints hired Kellen Moore as their new head coach, following his stint as offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Moore’s arrival signals a shift in direction — the Saints had endured a difficult stretch prior, dealing with injuries and inconsistency. The team is aiming to reboot its offensive identity and overall culture under his leadership. Some key details:

Moore was brought in after a thorough interview process.

His offensive background (notably in Philadelphia) and reputation for modern schemes are seen as assets for New Orleans.

The Saints, needing more stability and growth, are entrusting their next phase to Moore.

In addition, the retirement of veteran quarterback Derek Carr played into the organizational shift. Carr announced his retirement citing significant degenerative changes in his shoulder.

Together, these moves reflect a franchise in transition — one that is looking to recalibrate and rebuild certain parts of its identity rather than simply maintain the status quo.

2. Major Roster Moves & Trades

The Saints have been active in making roster-altering moves, especially as they navigate a difficult 2025 campaign and plan for the future. Two of the most prominent transactions:

a) Trading WR/RS Rashid Shaheed

The Saints traded Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round pick. Shaheed, who had emerged as a dynamic return specialist and receiver, was in the final year of his contract, and the move signals New Orleans’ willingness to convert a known asset into future draft capital.

b) Trading OT/OG Trevor Penning

In a somewhat surprising move, the Saints traded former first-round pick Penning to the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2027 sixth-round draft pick. Penning was the 19th overall pick in 2022, and his tenure in New Orleans had been uneven. This trade underscores the team’s focus on asset management and future flexibility over retaining every former draft investment.

These trades mark a clear message: the Saints are preparing for a future that might look different than their past, emphasizing picks, flexibility, and perhaps youth development.

3. Contract Extensions & Retaining Key Players

While the Saints are converting some assets into picks, they are also working to retain important contributors. Two notable signings earlier in 2025:

The Saints re-signed tight end Juwan Johnson to a three-year contract worth roughly $30 million, with $21.25 million guaranteed. Johnson had a breakout 2024 season and the team clearly sees him as part of their core moving forward.

The Saints also re-signed defensive end Chase Young to a three-year deal (up to ~$57 million, with about $27 million guaranteed). Young’s performance in 2024 earned him this extension, and keeping him in New Orleans was a priority.

These extensions indicate that while the franchise is shifting, it is not entirely rebuilding from the ground up — there remain foundational pieces the team trusts to build around.

4. Season Performance & Challenges

The Saints enter the latter half of the 2025 season in a difficult spot. They are among the league's worst performing teams so far, and the timing of trades and restructuring reflects that reality. For example, the team’s record (1-8 at a point) is cited in trade-deadline coverage.

Key challenges include:

Injuries: The team has been hit by losses and inconsistency at key positions (especially along the offensive line and skill-positions).

Transition at quarterback: With Derek Carr retired, the quarterback position is unsettled, and that vacuum impacts offensive continuity.

Organizational identity: With new coaching, trades, and schedule obstacles, the Saints face both short-term struggles and longer-term questions about how to evolve.

From a performance standpoint, the Saints are balancing between attempting to compete now and setting up for future competitiveness. The trade-deadline moves suggest a tilt toward planning ahead.

5. Strategic Outlook & Future Implications

What do these developments mean for the Saints’ near and long-term outlook?

a) Draft Capital & Youth Infusion

By trading Shaheed and Penning, the team adds draft picks in 2026 and 2027. That provides ammunition for re-building certain positions and giving younger players more opportunity. The emphasis appears to be on building a more sustainable roster rather than trying to chase success with the same core that has had mixed results.

b) Coaching Vision

Under Kellen Moore, the Saints are expected to evolve their offensive scheme, but the defense also gets attention (e.g., retaining Chase Young). The coaching transition, if successful, could alter how the team is built — less patchwork, more cohesive.

c) Competitive Window vs. Re-tooling

The key question: are the Saints still in a “win now” window or shifting into “win later” mode? The trades suggest perhaps a blend — they’re holding onto some key veterans (Johnson, Young) but shedding assets to maintain flexibility. The answer likely depends on how quickly the new coaching staff and younger players can step up.

d) Fan & Franchise Momentum

For a storied franchise like New Orleans, maintaining fan engagement while navigating a rough season is challenging. These changes — coaching, trading, pivoting — all influence public perception, culture around the team, and future recruiting/free-agency attractiveness.

6. Conclusion: Where Are the Saints Headed?

The New Orleans Saints are at a pivotal moment. On one hand, they are engaging in significant roster moves, coaching changes, and asset-management decisions that suggest a future-oriented rebuild. On the other hand, they remain committed to retaining key contributors and competing in the present.

If I were to sum it up:

The Saints are in a transitional phase — they are in the process of redefining their identity. What remains to be seen is how quickly they can transition from their past model to a new one and whether this transition leads to sustainable success rather than just interim turbulence.

For fans and observers, the next few months will offer important indicators: how the quarterback situation evolves, how younger players progress, how the team performs under Kellen Moore’s system, and whether the draft capital acquired translates into tangible improvement.