Three questions facing the Saints, Tyler Shough entering OTAs - ESPN

NEW ORLEANS — The Saints have gone through significant changes since they last practiced as a team in January.

— The lockers of longtime Saints players Cameron Jordan and Taysom Hill sit empty.

— Longtime team captain Demario Davis is gone.

— Running back Travis Etienne Jr., who signed in March, will show up as a potential successor to Alvin Kamara.

— Veteran receivers such as Rashid Shaheed have been replaced with young draft picks such as Jordyn Tyson.

The team's changes represent a stark contrast to the start of OTAs in 2025. When the Saints began practice last spring, they were in their first year under coach Kellen Moore, quarterback Derek Carr had just retired and safety Tyrann Mathieu was a few months away from an unexpected retirement.

While questions remain, the Saints feel more settled now as they ride the momentum of the final quarter of the 2025 season. New Orleans won four of its final five games to end the season under rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.

As Shough and the Saints kick off OTAs on Thursday, here are some of the questions they'll be looking to answer this offseason.

Will the veteran running back play for the Saints in 2026? He seemed to think so when he appeared on former teammate Terron Armstead's podcast in early May, using «we» to describe the Saints and saying he welcomed the signing of Etienne. Kamara said Etienne looked «explosive» in Jacksonville and said the two of them could be a similar duo to himself and former Saints running back Mark Ingram.

«Strong dude. Seems smart. I'm excited to see what we could do together,» Kamara said. «I think a lot of people be thinking it's like beef or something, when moves like this happen and it's like, man, 'Shoot, I couldn't be happier.' One, my