Can the Saints Speed at Receiver Combat Their Lack of Size?
The New Orleans Saints enter the 2025 NFL season with a broad receiver group that may not intimidate anyone with size, but it certainly will challenge defenses with speed. With returning stars Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, and the recent addition of veteran burner Brandin Cooks, the Saints are leaning fully into a fast-paced, explosive offensive identity. It’s a bold approach, especially given the lack of a traditional big-bodied possession receiver. However, this receiver group might be better positioned under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore than most think if health holds up.
Chris Olave has already proven he’s one of the league’s premier route runners, able to separate at every field level. His smooth acceleration and deep-threat ability make him a nightmare for man coverage. Rashid Shaheed, meanwhile, offers elite straight-line speed and has flashed as both a deep threat and a versatile weapon in space. Add in Brandin Cooks, who is still one of the fastest receivers in the league despite entering his 12th season, and the Saints have assembled one of the quickest receiver trios in football. This trio gives Kellen Moore the flexibility to stretch defenses vertically and horizontally. Moore has shown in past stints with Dallas and the Chargers that he knows how to design space-centric offenses, and the Saints’ current personnel is tailor-made for misdirection, speed outs, jet motion, and layered route concepts. Without a dominant tight end or a six-foot-three outside receiver to win contested balls, Moore is expected to rely more on tempo, spacing, and timing to win.
While speed kills, size still wins in some critical regions, particularly in the red zone and on third downs. The Saints’ top three receivers all measure six feet or barely under, and none are known for their physicality at the catch point. This could pose a challenge in short-yardage or goal-line situations, especially against bigger cornerbacks or when a play breaks down and the quarterback needs a bail-out option. Without a true possession receiver or dominant tight end, New Orleans may be forced to get creative, using bunch formations, rub routes, and backfield motion to create leverage instead of relying on physical mismatches. While that can be effective, it adds complexity and margin for error. The absence of a large-bodied target could limit specific game scripts, especially in playoff-style, physical contests. The potential of this group hinges heavily on health. All three primary receivers have dealt with various injuries throughout their careers. Shaheed missed time last year with quad and hamstring issues, Olave has had recurring minor ailments, and Cooks has a history of concussions and soft-tissue injuries. If even one of them misses significant time, the drop-off in talent and speed is steep, an area where depth could be a concern unless younger receivers emerge in camp.
The 2025 Saints have committed to a different kind of identity at wide receiver, built on speed, finesse, and tactical creativity rather than size and brute force. With Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks, New Orleans has the kind of electric trio that can stretch defenses and spark quick-strike scoring. Under Kellen Moore’s direction, their offensive ceiling is high, but so are the risks. The lack of a traditional possession receiver and the ever-present injury concerns leave them vulnerable in certain situations. Still, if this unit stays healthy and the scheme maximizes their unique skill sets, the Saints could prove that speed, when used right, is more than enough to fuel a top-tier passing attack.
