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Which Saints Player Is Primed To Breakout In 2026?
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- Which Saints Player Is Primed To Breakout In 2026?
Breakout players happen every year, and their breakout is a result of many different factors. Some get a chance by injury, and some literally take over their position with a chance. The different circumstances make roster building such an interesting challenge. Are you keeping someone on the roster with the hope of a breakout or do you take the known commodity?
For the New Orleans Saints , looking for a breakout in 2025 is interesting. Although he has been in the league for many years, who can argue that EDGE rusher Chase Young didn't break out with his finest season as a professional? Are breakouts only reserved for young players or unproven players?
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ESPN released a list of breakout players for each NFL team.
Benjamin Solak was tasked with choosing a player for each team and selected cornerback Quincy Riley .
Quincy Riley, CB
"The Saints struck gold in the middle rounds last season when they found two solid starting defensive backs -- Riley and third-round safety Jonas Sanker -- to fill out a defense desperate for talent. Riley was the third cornerback on the field behind Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor , but he played outside while Taylor kicked in despite his size (5-foot-11, 195 pounds).
Riley has an inarguable nose for the football and great pound-for-pound strength. I'd like to see him experiment with some slot reps following Taylor's departure in free agency, but he's more than sufficient as an outside corner in coordinator Brandon Staley's zone-heavy scheme. Sanker might end up the better breakout player, as he's first in line to replace Taylor in the slot, so I flipped a coin and landed on Riley."
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The coin flip between Sanker and Riley is an interesting one. Solak selected the player with less of a chance to break out, in my opinion. Sanker flashed so much at the end of 2025. It's almost easy money to select him, but Riley playing cornerback and not safety can push him into the niche role, while allowing Sanker to roam around.
In Staley's scheme, the "star" role has been utilized heavily so Sanker fits that profile. If Riley is to succeed, he will need to have a strong camp and preseason.
