The New Orleans Saints were in the bottom half of the league in sacks with 39 total during the 2024 season, and the team made sure to replenish their edge-rushing group with two new rookies who have stood out during training camp.
Fadil Diggs and Jasheen Davis were drafted in the seventh round and signed as an undrafted free agent, respectively, quickly exceeding expectations to begin their young careers with the Saints.
Despite Carl Granderson and Chase Young both returning to New Orleans this year, there is an opportunity to be had for the two rookies. The veteran duo both were tied for 60th in the league in sacks last season with 5.5 each.
With neither Granderson nor Young standing out as a dominant three-down defender, there is sure to be a rotation coming off the edge. Diggs and Davis have been impressive through training camp, and will have to continue to succeed through the preseason to earn a spot in the rotation.
On Friday, head coach Kellen Moore noticed the success the young edge duo had at getting after the quarterback.
“I thought some of the younger edge rushers did a really good job,” Moore said. “I thought our d-line in the third group really put in some pressure. They made it challenging for Jake [Haener] in some circumstances.”
What Makes Diggs an Important Asset Moving Forward
Fadill Diggs was a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Syracuse, spending the first four years of his collegiate career at Texas A&M. The 23-year-old finished with a team-high 7.5 sacks for the Orange in 2024, good for sixth best in the Atlantic Coast Conference and earning All-ACC honorable mention honors.
Through his first NFL training camp, Diggs has continued to have success getting to the passer, turning heads with impressive performances. Speed around the edge has been the rookie’s most consistent trait, a skill that the Saints lack through the rest of the depth chart.
With new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley coming in and revamping the scheme, New Orleans is anticipated to utilize more 3-4 fronts, a role that Diggs’ skill set is a perfect fit for.
Using his 6-foot-4, 257-pound frame, Diggs has shown the ability to dominate off the edge, going all the way back to his high school days. The East Camden, NJ native was named the 2019 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year during his senior year of high school.
Davis Is a Strong Candidate to Earn a Roster Spot Despite Being Undrafted
Jasheen Davis also spent his college days in the ACC, playing all five years with Wake Forest. The 23-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason, battling through camp to attempt to earn a roster spot.
With the Demon Deacons, Davis consistently took opposing quarterbacks to the ground, finishing with 25.5 total sacks, good enough for third in program history, as well as finishing second in career tackles-for-loss with 51.
The transition to NFL competition has been a seamless one for Davis thus far, making his presence known in practices with multiple sacks in 11v11s. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 270 pounds, Davis has shown the skillset and versatility to be a contributor even as a rookie.
Both players have surpassed the expectations surrounding their draft pedigree, but still have work to do to ensure they make the 53-man roster. With Sunday’s preseason game against the Chargers looming, the rookies will be doing everything they can to continue to show out.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Saints’ Rookie Edge-Rushing Duo Could Play a Big Role in Year One appeared first on Heavy Sports.