Breakout Candidate: How Bub Means Could Transform the Saints' Offense in Year Two
The New Orleans Saints may have their next breakout wide receiver already on the roster.
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Second-year wideout Bub Means is set to have a larger role in 2025. With the Saints in desperate need of a pass catcher that could make plays between the hashes, Means is certain to get a chance to prove his value to the team.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (16) on the field against the Atlanta FalconsDale Zanine-Imagn Images
In 2024, Means saw an increase in playing time after injuries to Chris Olave. The former Pitt standout showed promise in a week 6 breakout game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Means caught 5 receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown and was the go-to target for rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler.
Disappointingly, Means suffered a season-ending injury in Week 8. The fifth-round draft selection finished his rookie campaign with 9 receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown.
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The Saints have been active in the wide receiver market, looking to add a player of Means' mold to their offense. From confirming interest in wideouts in the draft to bringing in Gabe Davis for a visit, New Orleans has shown it wants to add to their receiver room.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) and wide receiver Chris Olave (12) and wide receiver Bub Means (16) look at the video boards on a time out against the Carolina PanthersStephen Lew-Imagn Images
At 6-foot-2 and 216 pounds, Means has the frame and physicality to succeed as a middle-of-the-field presence and red-zone threat. With draft comparisons to former First-Team All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel, Kellen Moore could also look to use the second-year pass catcher as a gadget player.
Means uses his large catch radius to snag receptions over defenders. With a large wingspan, the lengthy receiver creates a mismatch for average-sized defensive backs and can be the contested catch threat the Saints need.
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Means doesn't sacrifice speed for size either. The athletic wideout ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and has shown the ability to put his head down and create separation downfield from defenders.
While they aren't perfectly similar, Means has a closely related build to Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown. With head coach Kellen Moore coming off a dominant year with the Eagles and helping lead Brown to a third straight 1,000-yard season, Moore could look to increase Means' playing time in hopes of a similar role.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11).Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The second-year receiver has already shown eagerness to get back from injury and was the first Saints wideout to work with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
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At just 24 years old, Means has the potential to be a breakout star on Kellen Moore's new offense. With a fully healthy wide receiver room to take away the center of attention from Means, he'll have more single coverage looks and exploit mismatches in the middle of the field and take advantage of his frame in the red zone.
Related: New Orleans Saints Announce 2025 Training Camp Open Practice Dates
Related: PFF Ranks New Orleans Saints Defensive Line as Worst in the NFL for 2025 Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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