Every season several teams make a turnaround from having down seasons. The New Orleans Saints could very well be one of those teams in 2023.

New Orleans failed to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season in 2022, and it had a lot to do with less-than-stellar quarterback play from Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton. That was the catalyst for signing four-time Pro Bowler Derek Carr back in March.

On Friday's episode of Get Up on ESPN, Alan Hahn and Andrew Hawkins picked the Saints division foe, the Atlanta Falcons, as the team in the NFC that will be the biggest surprise for the upcoming season. That's somewhat understandable considering they drafted running back Bijan Robinson and signed veterans like safety Jessie Bates, edge rusher Calais Campbell, and former Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata. 

Don't tell Jeff Darlington that, though. 

"Yeah, first of all, you guys are both crazy," said Darlington. "But look, I just think that this is a team that will get in there, that will be better. I think Derek Carr changes the whole culture in New Orleans back to what it was with Drew Brees, the Saints are going to get in there.'

Carr was the main domino, but the Saints have done a good job adding weapons around him by drafting wide receiver A.T. Perry and running back Kendre Miller and signing tight end Foster Moreau and receiver Bryan Edwards. Couple that with Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Alvin Kamara, and that's a very formidable attack offensively for the Saints.

New Orleans finished second against the pass and fifth in total defense in 2022, but they did suffer some losses with Onyemata, Shy Tuttle, and Marcus Davenport. The Saints did counter by signing veterans Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd plus they used their first and second picks on defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and edge rusher Isaiah Foskey who have tons of potential. 

One thing is for certain, for the first time in years, the NFC South is up for grabs in 2023.

Fox Sports analyst makes extremely bold prediction on the Saints for 2023

This was a shocker.

Feature image via Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports