Danny Kanell: Saints Win NFC South
May 17th, 2026
A New Orleans Saints photo.
Does anyone care what Danny Kanell says about the NFC South?
Well, he did win a national championship at Florida State and he quarterbacked the New York Giants to an NFC East title, and he played two seasons for the Falcons.
Nowadays, Kanell is a popular host on SiriusXM College Sports Radio and he works for CBS as an analyst.
Asked to pick a 2026 winner in the NFC South, Kanell told CBS Sports HQ recently that he’s got the slimy Saints. No hesitation.
“I love their draft. I love some of the moves they made,” Kanell said of the Saints. “I love them bringing in [running back Travis] Etienne to help [quarterback] Tyler Shough. Jordyn Tyson, the [receiver] draft pick out of Arizona State, I think he dropped into their lap because of some of the injury concerns. I’m assuming he’s healthy. I think they run the ball better. I mentioned Tyler Shough, he was 4-1 in his last five starts, and he had two 300-yard [passing] games in those.”
Kanell is not alone on the Shough bandwagon.
Joe accepts that the guy had a solid rookie year. However, in Shough’s nine starts (10 touchdowns, 5 interceptions), he only faced one team that finished with a winning record. His record as a starter was 5-4 and his 300-yard games came late in the season against the bumbling Jets and the hapless Titans.
Joe expects NFL defensive coordinators to figure Shough out quickly this season. New Orleans opens at Detroit and at Baltimore. Joe will be surprised — and a bit nervous — if Shough manages to win one of those games.
May 17th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
I believe Shough is solid, but played the second part of the season against a lot of defense’s that did not play him very hard. Let’s see how he does with a full season of starts against teams that play full speed against him
May 17th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Couldn’t agree more, Joe. Saints will contend, but Shough will be figured out. Their defense is weak!
May 17th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
I don’t care what he has to say about the Bucs or anything else, BUT Danny Kanell is one of THE most insufferable, PATHETIC individuals on THE PLANET. Period. And, what he did to his supposed “very best friend,” just says all you need to know about THIS weak little crybaby. He’s just about as bad of a person you could get. He knows it and we ALL know it. He’s an EMPTY person. VERY Immature.
May 17th, 2026 at 4:42 pm
Blowes doesn’t have the luxury of a dumpster fire division anymore that he could squeak in a barely above average record and division win. Its the only thing that kept him a job.
May 17th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Fill us in on who his very best friend is/was and what he supposedly did.
May 17th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
It’s all going to come down to whether or not their receivers (especially Olave) can stay healthy, or not. I just don’t think they have the overall team depth yet, and a “SOPH. Slump” is a real thing in this league. Having TWO healthy WR’s will go a long way, but I think they are definitely the worst team in the division, just slightly below the Bucs. I think Carolina is a much better team, especially given their offseason, with what they did in free agency! ATL could be right there with ‘em (or even better), IF they can somehow find a way to get James Pearce Junior ON the field, and a fully healthy Jalon Walker in year-2.
May 17th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
Joe – remember the whole Jason Sehorn ordeal, when they were teammates in New York together, with the Giants!? Total dick move. The absolute WORST thing you could ever do.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Its the team that stays the healthiest, however im taking the team that ha their backs against the wall the Bucs!
May 17th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
you dont have to listen to kanell but the things he said about adding ettienne and tyson are kind of no brainers those were nice improvements. olave on the other side and johnson will get open against bucs lbs. an offensive minded coach will cause problems
May 17th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
but yeah panthers are probably better than saints.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Who knows right now . I tink the division is up for the grabs. The Bucs have tons of defensive problems not as of yet answered, especially the secondary. The Saints appear to be on the rise as do the Pathers, Atl has talent, new coach. I don’t know, My question is their a 10 win team in this division. Presently does not look that way. While the division overall is improving, it is still probably the weakest div in the league. The winner this year yet may again have a losing record. Presently I don’t see the Bucs more than 7 wins unless something is done about the secondary.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
None of the other teams in our division make me nervous honestly. A whole bunch of not-very-good quarterbacks. We need to re-sign Baker and for a while. He’s miles ahead of any of them!
May 17th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
Baker is the best QB in the division right now, but saying he’s “miles ahead of any of them” is just stupid.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
Danny has a HUGE ACC inferiority complex. ALL he has done for the past 15+YEARS, is troll SEC Fans on Twitter, like a little kid. He is OBSESSED with THE SEC. I’m sure he’s loved these last three years. NOBODY pays him much attention to him anymore. Because, it is what HE WANTS. He literally, gets off on it. It’s Pathetic.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
And no, no one cares what Danny fing Kanell has to say.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:31 pm
Joe, what was Bakers record & stats in the last 5 or games of last season and how many of those teams had a winning record? Asking for a friend….
To think the Bucs have this division in hand is fools gold, it’s also why Vegas has it as one of the most competitive divisions (not most difficult).
May 17th, 2026 at 5:31 pm
He’s still miles ahead of any of them. And my opinion is backed up by tons of evidence.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:32 pm
Shough kicked our a$$ last year.
Bowles and our D had no answer for him.
Idk why it will be any different this year.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
Who is coming off the edge for the Saints?
We were laughing at washed Cam Jordan but he put up a lot of sacks last year. Maybe he signs back still but who did the replace him with?
Their offense should be solid. I usually am very up to date on these rosters and I can’t think of one impactful thing they did on D this offseason.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
If you want to compare apples to apples only look at stats where all the starting offensive lines and receivers are playing for each qb. That will be *VERY* illuminating.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
@matt hard to compare apples to apples seeing ones a rookie and ones a vet. Baker’s experience should’ve been able to help him navigate a couple wins against bottom tier teams even without his two guards.
And I’m not blaming Baker alone, there were dropped TDs (EE), terrible play calling and so on and so forth. But that’s football, at the end of the day last season the rookie and the saints out played the Bucs that is a fact. Hope Robinson is closer to the Coens of the world than the Grizzards.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
Our linebackers were slower than my grandma last year. They won’t be this year. That was a huge reason why Shough was effective against us that is no longer present. Add in all our added great D-Linemen at stopping the run and every advantage he provides is GONE. I think the Bucs have a pretty good chance at 6-0 against the division this year if we stay healthy.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
Everyone has an opinion
I believe the division is wide open
But, l also believe it will come down to Atlanta or Tampa
May 17th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
Last year, Penix. This year, Schough. Two over-drafted, injury prone, older rookies who played okay in a handful of games down the stretch. The pundits cannot learn.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
Going from a reliable 4+ seconds in a clean pocket to a reliable 0 seconds in a clean pocket is difficult for anyone. Ask Mahomes. Avoiding injuries to the offensive line is crucial to a team’s success. And you can’t compare Baker’s numbers to other qb’s unless you only look at when his team wasn’t holding down his performance. Them too.
May 17th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
“Joe expects NFL defensive coordinators to figure Shough out quickly this season.”
When they do, I hope they tell Bowles.
May 17th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
The Bucs will do no better than 3-3 vs our division this year.
If that.
You can take that to the bank.
May 17th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
Erik with Clean Athletics™ Says:
May 17th, 2026 at 5:32 pm
Shough kicked our a$$ last year.
Bowles and our D had no answer for him.
Idk why it will be any different this year
——————–
New year?
New players and talent upgrades?
Because the only constant in the universe is change? 😉
AND it’s worth noting also that our offense had no answers for (anyone) the last half of the season
May 17th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
Extending BAKER longterm is just Idiotic. And, saying that he is THE best QB in the NFC South is not saying a whole helluva lot. It’s actually, irrelevant. WHY any real “Bucs Fan” would want to risk completely ‘blowing-up’ our salary cap, is just beyond me. For What!? THAT!? Especially, when there will probably be about 10 QB’s drafted within the first 100-Picks in the 2027-Draft (depending on who all decides to come out). There will be at least FIVE drafted in the 1ST-ROUND. At LEAST. Plus, there will be other FA-QB’s available too, such as Mac Jones.
So, we are risking absolutely NOTHING by waiting and allowing THIS SEASON to play-out. Especially, when ONLY ‘SIX’ of the Top-15 ‘Highest-Paid’ Quarterbacks in THE LEAGUE (all making $45-MILLION+ per year), FAILED to even make THE PLAYOFFS this past season. And, when THREE (including Nix) of the 4-Starters in The Conference Championship Games, were all 2nd-YEAR QB’s still playing on their ‘rookie’ deals. Build. The. ROSTER. FIRST. That is the way (unless, you have a legit Top-5/Generational type talent, where you have no other choice). I think teams are beginning to widen up on handing-out these RIDICULOUS QB-contracts to average ‘middle-of-the-road’ talents. The good teams with smart FO’s anyway!!!!
There is ZERO reason to be in a hurry, by rushing a Baker-Extension. We will have PLENTY of ‘options’ at the end of the season, including the Franchise Tag. Thankfully, the Bucs appear to feel the same way! There is NOTHING to gain by it. He is (supposedly) constantly injured, AND aging. We’re not even talking about his ‘inconsistent’ PLAY for throughout 8-SEASONS in the league. Unless, HE is 💯 completely healthy, AND has the season of HIS LIFE… There will NOT be all these teams lining-up and chomping at the bit to hand BAKER over $200-MILLION+ Longterm. It’s not like, there will be very many teams out there period, who could even IF they wanted to, due to salary cap reasons alone. Let’s See… Hmmmmm… Give BAKER $50-MILLION, orrrr take my chances with a CHEAP young stud in the ‘all-time’ LOADED 2027 Draft-Class, and continue ‘building’ My ROSTER!? Uhhh, yeahhhh… I believe that’s a very easy decision to make.
May 17th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
There is just nothing that makes ANY sense about it. We would be soooo SCREWED for a real long time, AND it would make it virtually IMPOSSIBLE hiring a ‘top-tier’ level, young up-and-coming modern day, genius of a mind, ‘offensive’ play-caller, HC. Even, pouring salt into the wound. We would be in major danger of ANOTHER “Lost Decade,” in that scenario. It’s. Just. NOT. Worth. It.
May 17th, 2026 at 6:54 pm
Here’s the real problem bozo can’t win in prime time can’t win against afc North nfc North can’t seem to be able to beat the rams add in now struggling against the panthers falcons and saints! Oh boy a interesting season indeed coming. All the hype is to sell tickets let’s all hope that the bucs have a great year or we will all have a great following year with a great new coach! Get your pop corn ready
May 17th, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Melvin Junior… I see where you are coming from and who doesn’t want a cheap QB!
I think what you are proposing is a huge mistake though. Honestly I am surprised Baker isn’t resigned already. If he is holding out for top of market or close… well your case becomes a lot stronger.
It just amazes me that a guy like Baker wouldn’t happily take $45 million. Put the ego aside, who cares what Daniel Jones is making. You got a tax free warm weather state, a solid front office and young building blocks around you. Cap goes up every year, at 45 million there is plenty left over to build with.
Taking the 5th rookie QB at pick 15 isn’t very promising to me or signing Mac Jones. Great he’s cheap but can he inspire confidence and lead a group of men like Baker can? The answer is very likely no.
Don’t forget, with a good OC and healthy OL, Baker threw for 4500 yards and 40 TDs. He gets big first downs with his legs and he didn’t choke the Wash playoff game away, I know some of you wish he did to fit your narrative but the fact is a rookie botched a snap and a rookie botched a handoff and Bowles kept playing checkers while Quinn played chess. Bowles called a fine defensive game but he had a top 5 offense. They wanna play the 4th down game and keep the D off the field, we could have done that as well.
May 17th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
BringBucsBack Says:
May 17th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
“Joe expects NFL defensive coordinators to figure Shough out quickly this season.”
When they do, I hope they tell Bowles.
——————
👏
May 17th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
And yep, take a bow for that comment BringBucsBack!
May 17th, 2026 at 8:12 pm
50 million per year is pocket change for an ultra-stud uber talented first overall QB who is in the top 6 or 7 QB’s in the entire NFL. Sign him. Do it NOW. It’s only going to get higher if you wait. And get at least 4 years. Drafting a young “stud” is a complete crapshoot. Signing an established stud starter is the way to go if you want to win and win consistently. Don’t let him get away. You will regret it FOREVER if you do!
May 17th, 2026 at 8:19 pm
What im hearing is….
You have to have a up and coming young OFFENSIVE MINDED H.C. with a proven D.C.
Also Need one of those 2nd yr stud qbs like we saw in the championships last yr.
So I wouldn’t worry about the Saints, they dont have a chance!!
Lagniappe: The NFL loves the saints so much that they get to open play on the road in Detroit, then on to the warm welcome all traveling fans have recieved at m&t bank stadium in baltimore!! But surely after that they would get to open the dome on the 20th anniversary of the domecoming, the symbol of the rebirth of New Orleans, there’s a GD statue outside the stadium commerating that piece of NFL history for Christ’s sake!! With a MNF game aginst the dirty birds but NOPE!! Not gonna happen. The most irrelevant team on the schedule (for saints fans) gets that slot in “Da Vegas Raiders” What an idiot of a commissioner to miss the mark that bad!! That’s ok because they gotta get the game in Paris France as a road game so they dont loose a home game…. right…. NOPE!!! This is easy to see it’s because fans would rather spend their money going to PITTSBURGH as a destination!! Good job NFL. Top it off with some late season cold weather games in Chicago and Cincinnati and there ya go!!
May 17th, 2026 at 8:39 pm
Much to the chagrin of the Nfc south and the NFL, we have Baker Mayfield. I can sense the trepidation from the opponents on our schedule. Baker is the Nfl’s all time leader in “chips on shoulders”, “excuses” and has led the NFL in “moxies” for 3 consecutive years.
Everytime he drops back to pass, “the touch” by Stan Bush blares out of the stadium and every tv watching the game. The CHOSEN ONE moniker was prematurely given to Lebron James. We have the undersized, hero ball, aging, limited, inaccurate, cant play from the pocket , terrible deep ball scrapper.
The guy could sail a ball 3 feet over the head of a 24 year old Lebron James. teams beware: the king of the NFC South in this MF!!!
May 17th, 2026 at 8:53 pm
SASkbucs: That’s why you hedge and sign a mature, experienced and capable bridge Qb to compete with him so he isn’t just given the spot right away. And btw, Mahomes,Lamar and Allen were all traded up before because their teams were all winning playoff teams the year before with Qbs aged 28-32.
It wont be impossible to replace.500 and 235 yards a game and 64% completion percentage. Good Lord, Aaron Rodgers was 36 and playing at a tier Baker could not fathom when they traded up for Jordan Love. Its not even unanimous Baker is better then him now but 7-8 seasons ago? Come on. Not to mention Philly and San Fran constant revolving door at qb.
But you guys got emotionally attached to this recycle bin, clearance section, dollar tree Brett Favre, thrift store Drew Brees….. You all are convinced he is the only Qb that can play here and 50 million a year for HIS services is a bargin…LOL
May 17th, 2026 at 8:57 pm
Slow news day
May 17th, 2026 at 9:11 pm
Bucs are a 8-9 ball club. I think Saints are a 8-9 ball club as well.
9 wins will win this divsion can Baker and the boys overachieve?
May 17th, 2026 at 9:18 pm
If we don’t have clusters of injuries to position groups (all our corners out, our top 4 WR’s out, 2-4 OL out all season) we don’t have wasted seasons. But that has been what is happening.
WE SIMPLY NEED OUR STARTERS HEALTHY and available to play. Every week. It would make all the difference we need. It’s not the GM or coach. It’s not Baker’s fault. It’s fate and maybe the football Gods stopped smiling on us after our 2nd Super Bowl. But we have to stop making the perfect the enemy of the good. We have a really good football team! Especially now. So let’s not blow it. Let’s keep making it better…
May 17th, 2026 at 9:27 pm
Noope. 2023 With a healthy OL, EVERY skill player starting all 17, we had the 23rd ranked offense and that was with a hot finish. canales was the OC too. Still started 4-7 and got hot to finish 9-8. defense was 7th in points allowed. Mike Evans had half of Bakers td passes( well 47%-I know how the Baker cult is) and it came down to a 9-0 week 18 thriller over carolina to win the division.
Mike did what he does but that year we went to the playoffs because for one season AWJ turned into prime Ed Reed. The offense sucked that year with a healthy Mike, Godwin, Otton.
Common denominator is……
May 17th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
“During their time with the Giants, Kanell and Sehorn were not only teammates but close friends who shared a townhome in New Jersey. Their close relationship made headlines at the time, as Sehorn was previously dating actress Angie Harmon, and rumors erroneously persisted in tabloids that she left him for Kanell—a claim all parties have repeatedly denied.”
May 17th, 2026 at 10:02 pm
I think that the Aaints are going to be tough this year. I said the same at the end of last season. They just looked like they were getting their act together.
But the Bucs are going to be tougher. I think they may roll the division this year.
May 17th, 2026 at 10:08 pm
This time last year, the 2026 draft was touted to be a “QB” draft. Was Mendoza on your boards then? Did you have a guy like Allar going above Neussmeier?
Let’s pump the brakes on the 2027 QB draft class until August. Baker might not be great, but I’d like to hear more feasible replacement options that aren’t coming in with no NFL experience
May 17th, 2026 at 10:09 pm
CBS is Fake News. Kanell fits in perfectly with them
May 17th, 2026 at 10:38 pm
Dante Moore returning to school diluted the talent pool for 2026 obviously and there will be guys that come out of nowhere during the season.Its going to be a stacked class. How they perform is another issue. Could be the 2020,2024 class or the 2021 class..That’s why you hedge with a capable, mature,vet. But what you cannot do is overpay a mediocre,limited vet. Also, SF And Philly have built teams around QBs drafted after the first round.
May 17th, 2026 at 10:49 pm
Saints were easily the best team in the NFC South at the end of last year. If the 2025 version of Baker shows up again, the Saints will absolutely win the division.
May 17th, 2026 at 11:06 pm
Or the 2023,2021, 1/2 the 2020 season version, 2019 version as well. If the 2022 Carolina version show up we will be in contention for the #1 overall pick. Actually 2025 was one of his best seasons lol. We’ll see. Glad he recovered from his ” injury” and was doing heavy lifting 2 months after the season. Guess he just needed rest for a few weeks. No surgery or procedures or nothing.