As the countdown to the 2025 NFL season continues, ESPN analyst Ben Solak released his annual “100 Things to Know” with 100 days remaining until kickoff. Among the wide-ranging league observations, Solak offered specific insight into the New Orleans Saints — zeroing in on a key concern that could make or break the team’s offensive outlook: the health of star receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. The Saints' offense started so hot and fell so hard in large part because of the injuries to Olave and Shaheed.

Shaheed is expected to be all the way back after knee surgery in October. Olave suffered the fourth concussion of his NFL career and missed the Saints' final eight games of the season. If New Orleans has any hope of a functional 2025 offense, it needs Olave to stay safe and healthy and Shaheed to return to full speed.

Olave and Shaheed’s availability will be more important than ever. With limited experience at the quarterback position and a new offensive scheme under Kellen Moore, the Saints will need their top two playmakers on the field every Sunday to keep the offense afloat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By design or bad luck, the Saints haven't added much to the receiving corps this offseason.

Veteran backups like Cedrick Wilson Jr., Dante Pettis, and Kevin Austin Jr. are returning from last year. So are 2024 rookies Bub Means and Mason Tipton. New Orleans did sign a couple of rookie free agents after the draft in Chris Tyree and Moochie Dixon but they're both longshots to make the team.

Donovan Peoples-Jones was also signed after a tryout but he couldn't get on the field last year with the Detroit Lions. If either Olave or Shaheed misses much time this year, the Saints may have to ask a lot of an unproven group. This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: ESPN: Saints offense can't run without Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed