Saints' defensive line labeled one of the NFL's most improved by PFF
One of the biggest priorities for the New Orleans Saints coming into the NFL Draft was fixing their defensive line after the departures of David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle, and Marcus Davenport. The Saints didn't waste any time addressing this area as defensive tackle Bryan Bresee out of Clemson was taken in the first round and […]
One of the biggest priorities for the New Orleans Saints coming into the NFL Draft was fixing their defensive line after the departures of David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle, and Marcus Davenport.
The Saints didn't waste any time addressing this area as defensive tackle Bryan Bresee out of Clemson was taken in the first round and Notre Dame edge rusher Isaiah Foskey was selected in the second. This gives the Saints two guys that can come in and immediately have an impact because both will play in 2023.
Pro Football Focus released a list of the most improved defensive lines after the NFL Draft. Well, the Bresee and Foskey picks helped get the Saints recognized.
Clemson’s Bryan Bresee produced a career-high 82.0pass-rushing grade in 2022 and can play multiple spots across the unit.
Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey has the size and speed that the Saints seem to love on the edge and can dominate tight ends from the alignment. He racked up 23 sacks, seven hits and 35 hurries across 595 pass-rush snaps over the past two seasons.
The additions of defensive tackles Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd in free agency were pretty solid. However, Bresee gives the Saints more to work with in terms of flexibility having played in the A-gap, B-gap, and on the edge during his time at Clemson.
Bresee will provide a body in multiple areas which will assist in keeping a fresh rotation on the defensive line for the Saints, which will be key in keeping them as one of the better defensive units overall in the NFL.
Foskey brings a non-stop motor and quick burst off the line of scrimmage to the Saints' pass rush. He can use his power to defeat blockers or his bend and speed coming off the edge. Foskey has a nose for making plays in the backfield with 28 tackles for loss at Notre Dame and he set their all-time sack record with 26.5 (double digits sacks logged in each of the last two seasons).
Bresee and Foskey have things to improve on, but the Saints got two extremely promising defensive talents by bringing them in.
