Defensive end Carl Granderson has been with the New Orleans Saints for the entirety of his six-year NFL career. He's gone from an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming in 2018 to one of the team's most consistent defensive players.
Granderson, 28, has 28.5 sacks, 61 QB hits, and 42 tackles for loss over his six years. He didn't essentially become a full-time starter since the 2023 season. Over those two campaigns, he's had 14 sacks, 60 pressures, 33 QB hits, and 23 stops for loss.
Granderson had his best season during 2023-24. His 8.5 sacks, 28 pressures, 20 QB hits, and 14 tackles for loss all led the team. This past year his overall production dipped to 5.5 sacks, 32 pressures, 13 QB hits, and only 9 stops for negative yards.
Even at that lower production, Granderson was second among New Orleans defenders in sacks and pressures while leading the team in tackles for loss. That's more a testament to how poorly a 30th ranked Saints defense performed overall.
New Coordinator, New Granderson?
New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (2) is hurried by New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96). Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
A 5-12 record brought changes to New Orleans this offseason. New head coach Kellen Moore will oversee an almost entirely new coaching staff. That includes Brandon Staley, the team's new defensive coordinator.
Staley has run a 3-4 base defense throughout his entire career as an assistant, coordinator, and head coach. He'll be expected to do the same with the Saints. As a result, we'll see some personnel changes to a defense that looked old and slow much of last season.
So, where will Granderson fit in this new scheme?
That is one of the key questions for the Saints on that side of the ball this offseason.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96). Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
In 2023, New Orleans signed Granderson to a four-year contract extension worth $52 million dollars. His cap hit in 2025 will be $11.73 million, but don't be surprised if the team attempts to restructure that to create cap space. He's already been restructured once, adding a voidable year in 2028.
Granderson has been a defensive end in the Saints' 4-3 system his entire career. At 6'5" and 261-Lbs., he has the length and athleticism to be a stand-up rusher in Staley's 3-4 scheme. Despite his lanky frame, his power and strength might also be adequate enough to be an end on a three-man line.
While much-improved against the run from his rookie year, this is still a weakness to Granderson's game that might be magnified as a 3-4 down lineman. If he were a stand-up end in that scheme, it would be as a pass rusher rather than a dropback linebacker. Anything otherwise could make him a liability against the pass.
Carl Granderson will be a key piece for Brandon Staley as he tries to rebuild a once-formidable New Orleans defense in 2025. The only question will be where.
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This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 6:23 AM.
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