The New Orleans Saints’ defense has been the team’s main focus and strength since Drew Brees retired. Bleacher Report ranked the Saints as the 11th-best defense in the NFL for the upcoming season, taking into account offseason moves and last year’s performance.
The Saints’ strong defense is a result of their consistent performance since 2017 under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. This reliability is akin to the blind faith fans have in the offense led by head coach Sean Payton. Retaining last year’s defensive core has only increased confidence in the team.
Despite their success, there are two concerns with the defense: age and pass rush. Key players like Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Tyrann Mathieu are all 32 years old or older, raising questions about potential decline. Additionally, the pass rush struggled last season, ranking poorly in both pass rush percentage and sacks.
To address these concerns, the Saints made a bold move by drafting Chase Young in round one of this year’s NFL Draft. Young is expected to bolster the pass rush and improve overall defensive performance. Although they managed to succeed despite their pass rush issues last season, it’s not something they should rely on moving forward. The defense is expected to improve with a stronger pass rush, pointing towards a positive trend for the team in the upcoming season.
In summary, while the Saints’ defense has been their main focus and strength since Drew Brees retired, there are still concerns about age and pass rush that need to be addressed before they can fully realize their potential as a top-tier team in the league. With Young joining their ranks, however, they are well on their way to addressing those concerns and improving their overall defensive capabilities for next season.
