Saints' Quincy Riley: Defends 10 passes in rookie year
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Riley played in 17 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign, logging 35 tackles (29 solo), 10 passes defended, including one interception, and one forced fumble.
Riley emerged as the Saints' top slot cornerback, and he finished third on the team in passes defended despite not playing a single defensive snap over the first two weeks of the season. The Louisville product played a big role in a New Olreans defense that ranked fourth against the pass in 2025. He could be in line for an even larger role if the Saints do not retain pending free-agent cornerback Alontae Taylor.
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Saints' Chase Young: Posts resurgent season in 2025
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Young closed the 2025 season with 38 tackles (22 solo), including 10.0 sacks, and four passes defended across 12 games. He also recorded two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, including a fumble returned for a touchdown.
Young missed the first five games of the season with a calf injury, but he still reached double-digit sacks for the first time in his career. As the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 Draft, the 26-year-old didn't live up to expectations over his first four seasons, but he's bounced back during his time with New Orleans. Young has tallied 15.5 sacks in 29 games across the last two years, and he has two seasons remaining on his three-year, $51 million deal with the Saints.
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Saints' Davon Godchaux: Production dips in 2025
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Godchaux recorded 43 tackles (14 solo) and one forced fumble while playing in 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Godchaux was traded from the Patriots to the Saints after logging at least 56 tackles in four straight seasons. He also played over 600 defensive snaps during each year with New England, but he played just 454 with New Orleans in 2025. Godchaux signed a restructured two-year, $11 million contract after being traded to the Saints last offseason. The 31-year-old figures to serve as the team's starting nose tackle once again in 2026.
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Saints' Chris Rumph: Sets career high in tackles in 2025
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Rumph played in 17 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign, recording 47 tackles (24 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one pass defended.
Rumph joined the Saints on a one-year deal after missing the entire 2024 campaign with a foot injury. The 27-year-old saw more playing time in New Orleans than he did during any of his first four seasons with the Chargers, but he still spent most of his time on special teams. Rumph enters the offseason among a large group of pending free agents for the Saints.
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Saints' Danny Stutsman: Posts 53 tackles in rookie season
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Stutsman accumulated 53 tackles (25 solo) while playing in 17 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
Stutsman was a core special-teams player as a rookie, lining up on over 60 percent of special-teams snaps in all but one game for the Saints. The Oklahoma product saw a gradual increase in playing time over the course of the season, and he played almost half of the team's defensive snaps in Week 17 and Week 18. Stutsman could take on a larger role in 2026 if the Saints move on from longtime starting inside linebacker Demario Davis, whose contract expired after the 2025 campaign.
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Saints' Jonas Sanker: Steps into starting role Year 1
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Sanker played in 17 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign, tallying 80 tackles (46 solo) and six passes defended, including two interceptions.
The rookie third-rounder was thrust into a starting role after Julian Blackmon sustained a season-ending torn labrum Week 1. Sanker went on to play almost every defensive snap for the remainder of his rookie campaign, finishing fourth on the Saints in tackles and tied for second in interceptions. The 23-year-old established himself as a key piece in New Orleans' secondary as a rookie, but he may see less playing time in 2026 after Blackmon re-signed a one-year deal to return alongside stalwart strong safety Justin Reid.
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Saints' Julian Blackmon: Staying in New Orleans
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The Saints re-signed Blackmon (shoulder) to a one-year deal Tuesday, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
The 27-year-old from Utah signed a one-year deal with the Saints last offseason but played in just one game in 2025 due to a shoulder injury. Blackmon appeared in 16 games for the Colts in 2024, recording 86 total tackles, including 0.5 sacks, and four passes defensed, including three interceptions. Now back with the Saints, the veteran safety will likely start alongside Justin Reid in 2026.
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Saints' Justin Reid: Production dips with New Orleans
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Reid finished the 2025 regular season with 72 tackles (37 solo), including 0.5 sacks, and four passes defended, including one interception, across 15 games.
Reid's numbers took a slight hit in his first season with the Saints, as he tallied fewer than 83 tackles for the first time since 2021 and for just the second time in his career. The eight-year veteran was sidelined for two games, as well as the majority of the Week 13 loss to the Dolphins, with a knee injury. He also played just nine defensive snaps Week 5, so missing almost four games likely helps explain his dip in production. Reid has two seasons remaining on his three-year, $31.5 million deal with New Orleans.
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Saints' Kool-Aid McKinstry: Performs well as CB1 in 2025
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McKinstry finished the 2025 season with 76 tackles (59 solo) and 17 passes defended, including three interceptions, across 17 games.
McKinstry finished tied for sixth in the NFL in passes defended during his first season as the Saints' No. 1 cornerback. The 2024 second-rounder also improved his consistency as a tackler while playing over 400 more defensive snaps than he did as a rookie. McKinstry should set himself up for a solid payday if he performs at a similar level in 2026.
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Saints' Carl Granderson: Tallies 6.0 sacks in 2025
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Granderson accumulated 57 tackles (22 solo), including 6.0 sacks, and four passes defended across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Granderson continued his consistent production this season, but his tackle numbers took a hit as he played slightly fewer snaps than he did over the previous two seasons. In 51 games over the last three regular seasons, the 29-year-old has tallied 20 sacks, and he's averaged 65.3 tackles per year. Granderson has two seasons remaining on his four-year, $52 million contract with the Saints.
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Saints' Cameron Jordan: Logs 10.5 sacks in 2025
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Jordan finished the 2025 campaign with 47 tackles (32 solo), including 10.5 sacks, and two passes defended across 17 games.
Jordan brought down Kirk Cousins in Week 18 to reach double-digit sacks for the first time since 2021. This was a massive jump from his previous two seasons, when he accumulated 6.0 sacks across 34 regular-season games. The 15-year veteran has now logged 10 or more sacks seven times in his career. Jordan played on a one-year, $6.05 million deal this season, and it's unclear if he'll re-sign with New Orleans, join a new team, or even retire this offseason.
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Saints' Pete Werner: Tallies 81 stops in 2025
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Werner finished the 2025 season with 81 tackles (50 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and five passes defended across 17 appearances.
Werner posted 80 or more tackles for the fourth year in a row, and he played every regular-season game for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old finished third on the Saints in tackles behind fellow inside linebacker Demario Davis (143) and cornerback Alontae Taylor (83). As long as Davis continues playing for New Orleans, Werner figures to remain in a secondary role in 2026.
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Saints' Demario Davis: Career-high tackle tally in Year 14
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Davis finished the 2025 campaign with 143 tackles (64 solo), including 0.5 sacks, and three passes defended across 17 games.
Davis racked up a new career high for tackles in a season, finishing tied for the 10th-most stops in the NFL in 2025. His durability and consistency have stood the test of time, as he logged his ninth straight season with over 100 tackles. The 36-year-old -- who turns 37 in January -- played every regular-season game for the 14th time in his career. Davis was under contract with New Orleans through the 2025 season, and he should remain productive whether he sticks with the Saints or goes elsewhere in 2026.
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Saints' Demario Davis: Getting green light for finale
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Davis (calf) is active for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Davis logged limited practices throughout Week 18 prep and drew a questionable tag, but he'll ultimately suit up for the regular-season finale, keeping his perfect attendance streak alive. In 16 appearances this season, the veteran linebacker has totaled a career-high 137 tackles (63 solo), including 0.5 sacks, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
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Saints' Demario Davis: Questionable with calf issue
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Davis (calf) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons, Jeff Nowak of WWL Radio reports.
Davis was a limited participant throughout the Week 18 practice sessions with a calf injury he likely sustained in last Sunday's win over the Titans. The inside linebacker has yet to miss a game this season, so stringing three consecutive practice sessions together is a strong sign he will be able to suit up for Sunday's season-finale. If the team decides it wants to be careful with Davis' injury, Danny Stutsman and Jaylan Ford would be set to receive an increased defensive workload for the Saints' linebacker corps.
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Saints' Michael Davis: Placed on IR
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Davis (shoulder) was placed on the injured reserve list Friday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
The 29-year-old from BYU sustained a shoulder injury in the Week 17 win over the Titans and didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, so it's no surprise he's shifted to IR. Davis finished his 2025 campaign with four total tackles across 11 appearances while primarily contributing on special teams (eight snaps on defense, 113 on special teams).
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Saints' Nathan Shepherd: Out for Sunday
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Shepherd (ankle/knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Falcons, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
The Fort Hays State product didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday and is now in line to miss the Saints' season finale due to ankle and knee injuries. Shepherd had one of the best years of his career in 2025, tallying 47 total tackles, including 3.0 sacks, and one forced fumble across 16 contests. While he's sidelined Sunday, expect John Ridgeway to operate as one of the Saints' top defensive ends.
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Saints' Bryan Bresee: Out for Week 18
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Bresee (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Falcons, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Bresee hasn't returned to practice since sustaining a knee injury in the Week 16 win over the Jets, so it's no surprise he'll be sidelined Sunday. The third-year pro from Clemson had a relatively underwhelming 2025 campaign, recording 37 total tackles, including 2.5 sacks, three passes defensed and one forced fumble over 15 appearances. Expect Jonathan Bullard and John Ridgeway to have expanded roles on New Orleans' defensive line while Bresee and Nathan Shepherd (ankle) are sidelined in Week 18.
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Saints' Bryan Bresee: Remains out of practice
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Bresee (knee) did not practice Wednesday.
Bresee didn't practice at all last week and sat out Sunday's win over Tennessee. With a DNP to begin Week 18 prep, his potential to return to action for New Orleans' season finale this coming Sunday in Atlanta is shaky, at best. Should Bresee need to sit out again, Jonathan Bullard and Nathan Shepherd (ankle) would be candidates for more defensive snaps.
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Saints' Demario Davis: Dealing with calf issue
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Davis logged a limited practice session Wednesday due to a calf injury.
Davis presumably picked up the injury in this past Sunday's win over Tennessee. His ability to post a limited session Wednesday suggests the issue isn't especially severe, though the veteran linebacker's status for Week 18 is still uncertain. New Orleans has long been eliminated from playoff contention, so the team doesn't have much reason to roll out Davis if he's not fully ready to play.
