# Ross Jackson: Ross Jackson ranks the 10 most important New Orleans Saints players entering 2026, with quarterback Tyler Shuck first, Chase Young second and Chris Olave third, plus honorable mentions. He also suggests safety Julian Blackmon is the logical candidate to become the first Saint since 2017 to top four interceptions in a season.

**Claimed:** Jun 16, 2026
**Pundit:** Ross Jackson — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ross-jackson
**Outlet:** Locked On Saints (podcast) — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/locked-on-saints-podcast
**How it reached us:** said on air, transcribed by us
**Original:** https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/83ac39/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/26a658f6-15f1-4878-ab5f-d78d7d886aa9/episodes/1c3e7a95-35dc-4f46-8d13-b6f3fecc1753/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=26a658f6-15f1-4878-ab5f-d78d7d886aa9&awEpisodeId=1c3e7a95-35dc-4f46-8d13-b6f3fecc1753&feed=aKgoC4uX

4 checkable claims — 2 depth chart calls, 1 player season number and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.

> The New Orleans Saints' most important player going into 2026 is Tyler Shuck.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **David Edwards to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: David Edwards, New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Kool-Aid McKinstry to be 1st on the depth chart**
  - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Kool-Aid McKinstry, New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Julian Blackmon to record 5 interceptions**
  - Kind: Player Season Numbers · About: Julian Blackmon, New Orleans Saints
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **Tyler Shuck, number one. Chase Young, number two. Chris Olave, number three. Calvin Banks junior. Carl Granderson, cornerback Kool Aid McKendree as well as safety. Julian Blackman give us four through seven. And then eight was Jawan Johnson. Nine, David Edwards. 10, Travis h Han junior.**
  - Kind: Top Player Lists
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- David Edwards — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/david-edwards
- New Orleans Saints — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/saints
- Kool-Aid McKinstry — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kool-aid-mckinstry
- Julian Blackmon — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/julian-blackmon

## What others said about the same people

- Chris Simms on New Orleans Saints: Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/662b7ba3-1bf6-4ad0-9f93-9f2ab83143fd (scored 47.62)
- Nick Wright on New Orleans Saints: On his Week 3 pick show, Nick Wright gave straight-up final-score predictions for five games, calling blowouts by Seattle over Washington and Kansas City over Miami, a Jacksonville home win over New England, a narrow New Orleans win over the Raiders and a low-scoring Baltimore win over Dallas in Brazil. He also called Seattle the best team in the NFL with the league's best defense. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/afa6070a-4229-4b28-a922-31d609ad1adf (scored 33.33)
- Dan Beyer on New Orleans Saints: For his Week 3 survivor pick, he took the Saints to beat the Raiders at home, saying he doesn't see Las Vegas staying unbeaten. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/fdedf503-5121-4109-b003-d5c980b00456 (scored 0)
- Darrion Gray on New Orleans Saints: Predicted the Saints beat the Raiders 27-17 at home. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/778eb604-cf02-49f1-8468-fbc8b0798375 (scored 45.24)
- John Hendricks on New Orleans Saints: Predicted a lower-scoring Saints win over the Raiders, 24-19, with the defense carrying them. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5d6f55b1-d993-4659-a8b9-d95c6942875e (scored 42.86)
- Lance Moore on New Orleans Saints: Called for a Saints victory over the Raiders by a score of 27-20. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/92c9e860-f1af-4e13-a82c-80d31fa7be6e (scored 47.62)

## More depth chart calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Garrett Podell on Case Keenum: Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e92b59e-0dd1-43c3-80c1-6551a8b641ac (scored 100)
- Fox Sports on Case Keenum: A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3aff6d9f-b997-480e-b323-740b6a4677ed (scored 100)
- Fox Sports on Case Keenum: With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7726bb2f-b9aa-4c35-aa7b-e0b49990e867 (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0)
- Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100)
- Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

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