The New Orleans Saints are entering a make-or-break 2024 season, and, unfortunately, experts think it will be the start of a really bad few years for the team.

Things haven’t been good for the New Orleans Saints in recent years. Over the last three seasons, the franchise finished 9-8, 7-10, and 9-8, missing the playoffs each year. Still, New Orleans has worked to keep its core together for the 2024 season.

With the recent history being as underwhelming as it has been, this upcoming season is a make-or-break year for the Saints. Another underwhelming year without a playoff appearance will likely lead to a rebuild. Though, some in New Orleans are optimistic the team can pull things together and deliver a contending team this season.

That optimism doesn’t extend outside of the building. All offseason, people that cover the NFL have argued the Saints are just delaying an inevitable rebuild. Because of that, the expectation for New Orleans this season is mediocre at best.

Beyond the 2024 season, expectations are even lower for the franchise. ESPN’s panel of NFL contributors recently did a future power rankings, projecting how things will look for the league over the next three seasons. Unfortunately for the Saints, they were ranked No. 31.

Saints ranked 31 in ESPN’s future power rankings

To forecast how teams will look over the next three seasons, the group of experts each graded every team in four different categories: quarterback situation, remaining (non-QB) roster makeup, front office, and coaching staff. The panel used the letter grading system, then averaged the results, with categories holding different weights.

In end, New Orleans ended up as the 31st-ranked team with a 68.6% overall score, landing the team in the D, or very bad, range. As for the individual categories, the Saints received a 70.3 score for quarterback situation, 73.0 for remaining (non-QB) roster makeup, 64.7 for front office, and 66.0 coaching staff.

Aaron Schatz highlighted how New Orleans was the league’s oldest team last season, and Louis Riddick emphasized how much the team needs the running game to get back on track. As far as the reason Saints fans can be hopeful moving forward, Dan Graziano pointed to third-year receiver Chris Olave.

With all of that in mind, only one team was ranked lower than New Orleans, the Las Vegas Raiders. While this definitely isn’t fun to read for Saints fans, it’s hard to disagree with an argument that says the team isn’t set up well for the future.