Some of the optimism around the Β was centered upon the defense maintaining a certain level of competence in Year 2 under coordinator Brandon Staley.
That group outplayed expectations in 2025. A unit largely acquired to fit former head coach/defensive coordinator Dennis Allenβs 4-3 scheme played surprisingly well in Staleyβs 3-4 defense.
The Saints finished with the No. 9 total defense, the No. 4 pass defense and the No. 3 run defense by expected points added. They brought back most of the starting 11 and have avoided catastrophic injuries through seven games.
So what happened?
Only five teams are allowing more points per game than the Saints (27.7) through seven weeks, and only four are allowing more yards per game (372.7).
It doesnβt seem to matter whether teams prefer attacking New Orleans through the air or on the ground, as the Saints rank 25th or worse in both categories. A team that had done an excellent job limiting explosive plays the year before is suddenly giving them up in bunches.
The defense taking a big step back is a major reason why New Orleans is where it is right now.
Here are the grades through seven weeks.
Defensive line: D
Key stat: 1.5 average yards gained by an opposing runner before contact.
The Saints largely ran it back on the defensive interior, figuring it was βaddingβ two young players in Vernon Broughton, who missed all but one game of his 2025 rookie season, and Christen Miller, their 2026 second-rounder.
The Saints lost Bryan Bresee to a season-ending injury in the first week of training camp, and it hasnβt gotten much better since. Veterans Davon Godchaux and Nathan Shepherd have not produced, combining for one tackle for loss. Broughton has had some nice moments but also has been invisible for large chunks of time. Miller has contributed next to nothing.
The end result has been a team that consistently has been bullied at the line of scrimmage. That is not all on the defensive line, but it is supposed to serve as the vanguard of the run defense, but it has not been good enough.
Edge rushers: B
Key stat: 12Β½ combined sacks for Chase Young and Carl Granderson.
The only thing the Saints have been able to consistently hang their hat on is the pass rush generated by Young and Granderson.
Young is proving last seasonβs breakout was no fluke. He ranks second in the NFL with seven sacks, and according to NextGenStats, sixth in total pressures (32). He has at least half a sack in five games, a number that should really be six had it not been for a highly questionable that took away a strip-sack.
Granderson has been almost as good, with 5Β½ sacks, which is tied for fifth in the NFL. Heβs done this while also being one of the team's better run defenders.
There definitely has been a drop-off after those two. Cam Jordan has not rediscovered the form that pushed him to double-digit sacks last year, generating eight pressures and zero sacks on 108 pass-rush snaps. Anfernee Jennings and Tyree Wilson have combined for one sack and six pressures.
Linebackers: C+
Key stat: 85.7% opposing quarterbacksβ completion percentage when Saints linebackers Pete Werner, Kaden Elliss and Danny Stutsman are the nearest players in coverage. It should be noted here that this is based on GPS tracking rather than coverage assignments, but the number is still jarring.
This is a tricky unit to evaluate. Werner is playing arguably the best football of his career now that heβs taken over the Mike linebacker position formerly occupied by Demario Davis. Elliss has been a strong fit for Staleyβs defense and has made an impact as both a pass rusher and run defender when heβs been on the field (Elliss missed three games with a calf injury).
But the linebackers also have contributed to the poor performance against the run β go back and watch Bijan Robinsonβs long touchdown to start Monday Night Football β and have been a nonfactor in pass coverage.
Stutsman did not look ready when he took over during Ellissβ injury, racking up more plays where he was out of position than impact plays.
This feels like a unit that will get better once Elliss has more time on the field.
Cornerbacks: C
Key stat: Zero interceptions by the three corners who began the season as starters.
The Saints went into the season with one of the youngest starting cornerback groups in the NFL. On the outside, the Saints had 2024 second-rounder Kool-Aid McKinstry and 2025 fourth-rounder Quincy Riley. In the slot, they had 2025 third-rounder Jonas Sanker.
That group has had an up-and-down start to the season. Sanker has been much more of a factor in the run game than he has been in the pass game. McKinstry has been mostly solid and ranks among the league leaders in the amount of separation heβs allowing, but heβs also given up his fair share of big plays. Riley has been benched in favor of Martin Emerson.
The Saints are playing more Cover 3 than just about anybody in the NFL, and teams have been picking apart their soft zone coverage underneath. The idea is that they wonβt get hit over the top β except New Orleans has allowed 24 passes of 20 or more yards this season, tied for fourth-most in the NFL.
Safeties: D+
Key stat: Two passes that Saints safeties have gotten their hands on this season
Julian Blackmon is tied for the team lead with two interceptions, both of which directly contributed to the Saintsβ only wins.
Thatβs about where the conversation ends for memorable positive plays made by the safeties.
Neither Blackmon nor Justin Reid has been credited with a pass breakup outside of those two interceptions this season. There are 30 NFL safeties who have at least three by themselves through seven weeks.
According to Pro Football Reference, Blackmon and Reid have yielded five passing touchdowns between them in coverage this season, and the pair has combined to miss 11 tackles.