There may be an unsuspecting star rising for the New Orleans Saints as the first day of pads ended. Rookie wide receiver Barion Brown has been stacking good days and performed well again on Monday.
Aug 02, 2026; Metairie, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Barion Brown (19) during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Brown, a sixth-round pick by the Saints, was making plays left and right. Despite being announced as a return specialist during the draft, Brown has been a favorite target among quarterbacks through the first week of camp. Ironically, the first comment by the commentators when the LSU wideout was drafted was “Look how they announced it…so don’t come in here thinking you gonna be catching a whole bunch of passes.”
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At 5-foot-11, Brown has game-breaking speed, but his ability to make contested catches is better than many expect. He won’t be the same red zone target as Devaughn Vele, but he is a willing playmaker and has a wide catch radius.
The Saints wide receiver room is a lot different than what it was just a year ago. From entering the season saying “who’s going to help Chris Olave” to wondering how New Orleans will get all their playmakers on the field at the same time. With Olave, Vele, and first-round pick Jordyn Tyson, Tyler Shough will have plenty of weapons to spread the ball to.
Brown was also the third and last wide receiver the Saints drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, making his road to seeing playing time with the offense even further. Despite this, he has taken advantage of his opportunities and shown the ability to make plays.
Brown’s versatility as a kick returner already made his chances of making the roster high, but the display of his speed and effort during training camp has only elevated his chances. This is only emphasized with the recent and surprise retirement of wideout Ja’Lynn Polk, who was placed on the reserve/retired list on Saturday.
With his continuous playmaking and one less player to beat out, Brown is looking like a lock to be on the Saints’ 2026-27 roster.
