Blake Grupe leads Saints countdown to kickoff with the Week 1 opener vs. Arizona looming in 19 days. No. 19 has emerged as a trusted weapon for New Orleans, fresh off a rookie season that mixed boom-or-bust moments with clear range and leg strength. He was undrafted in 2023, beat out Wil Lutz, and then leaned into big kicks from beyond 50 yards—six makes, longest 57—in 2024 while escalating his kickoff power. Yet competition remains alive with Charlie Smyth nipping at his heels, keeping Grupe’s spot honest as New Orleans aims to maximize every opportunity in a potentially unsettled offensive start. Grupe’s consistency and clutch range could be the Saints’ best chance to rack up points early, especially if drives stall in the opening weeks against a defensively capable Cardinals squad.

Grupe’s journey from Missouri’s Smith-Cotton to Arkansas State and Notre Dame, then into the NFL as an undrafted free agent, underscores a profile built on power and improving accuracy. A late-season 46-yard miss at Green Bay in his rookie year haunted a playoff-clinching tie-breaker, but his 2024 numbers told a different story: clean extra points, 87.1% field goals, and a reliable long-range tool that should keep Saints fans optimistic about their scoring ceiling in the early going. With the offense expected to be dynamic enough to threaten from inside the red zone, Grupe’s leg could become the difference-maker in a few nail-biters, especially in a home opener against Arizona where every three points count.

As New Orleans leans on Grupe’s range to put points on the board, fantasy managers should watch the Week 1 setup closely. If the offense stalls, Grupe could become a high-floor, high-ceiling kicker play early in the season, offering steady points from field goals and occasional multi-kick games. His performance will also shape how aggressively the Saints deploy him in tight spots—whether as a weekly staple in standard leagues or a risk-reward option in deeper formats.

Spencer Rattler closed preseason with late drama as New Orleans tied Jacksonville 17-17, sneaking in a 20-yard TD to Dante Pettis with 21 seconds left and scrambling for the two-point. Rattler finished 18-of-24 for 199 yards with a TD and an INT. Tyler Shough flashed in the first half, 9-of-12 for 66 yards with no turnovers, signaling continued competition for the Week 1 job in Moore’s new offense. Rattler’s edge came with the evaluation moments Moore emphasized, giving him another look late in the game.

Mason Tipton piled up 100 receiving yards on six catches for the Saints, a reminder of depth at receiver and the potential for punt-returning plays to surface later. On the Jaguars, Trevor Lawrence moved the drive with 76 passing yards on 8-of-10, while Nick Mullens posted 112 passing yards after Lawrence’s second-quarter exit. Jacksonville mixed in Cam Little’s 53-yard field goal at halftime and Blake Grupe’s 51-yard kick for New Orleans, with Sanker returning a key 40-yard interception to set the final sequence.

The Saints’ battle for Week 1 starts now against Denver, while Jacksonville heads to Miami for another preseason showcase as Kellen Moore continues to evaluate a new offense and roster pieces. The marquee storyline remains Rattler vs Shough, with Pettis and Tipton providing real fantasy-relevant targets if the Saints lean into this QB competition in early regular-season games.

The New Orleans Saints have seen a rotating door of kickers in recent seasons, with names like Blake Grupe, Wil Lutz, and Brett Maher taking center stage. Despite these changes, Grupe has managed to secure the position for two consecutive years, showcasing a solid field goal success rate of 83.8% and an impressive extra point success rate of 97.3%. The Saints are now introducing Charlie Smyth, who has made headlines by outkicking several professionals at the Kohl's Kicking Camp, adding to the competition in the kicking game.

Smyth’s performance at the camp has generated excitement among Saints fans, as he aims to challenge Grupe's position. The team's emphasis on consistent special teams play could hinge on how well Smyth adapts to the NFL's intensity. With a recent history of injuries and inconsistent performances from previous kickers, the outcome of this competition could significantly impact the Saints' scoring capabilities in upcoming games.

The New Orleans Saints have received an international roster exemption for their second-year kicker, Charlie Smyth, allowing them to expand their offseason roster. Smyth, a rookie from Newry, Ireland, made headlines during the 2024 preseason by hitting a game-winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals and consistently making 60-plus yard kicks in practice. This exemption provides him a platform to compete more effectively against established kicker Blake Grupe for the starting position in 2025. Grupe had a successful prior season, making 27 of 31 field goals, which adds pressure on Smyth to elevate his game.

Smyth, who only started kicking American footballs last year, is on an impressive trajectory, and the Saints are eager to see just how far he can develop under the guidance of newly appointed special teams assistant Phil Galiano. Training camp this summer will be crucial for both kickers as they vie for the starting role.

In a nail-biting finish, the Washington Commanders edged the New Orleans Saints 20-19, thanks to Jayden Daniels' two touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin. Daniels, who returned to Louisiana after winning the Heisman Trophy, completed 25 of 31 passes for 226 yards and added 66 rushing yards.

Despite a strong performance from Saints' Spencer Rattler, who threw for a touchdown and led a late rally, New Orleans fell short after failing a crucial 2-point conversion attempt.