The New Orleans Saints are starting to show their personality in camp, and it’s coming from the defense first.
That side of the ball has generated the loudest buzz so far, even as the offseason conversation leaned heavily toward the offense, Tyler Shough’s growth and what the passing game might become. With the Saints in the middle of their 60th season and another full-pads practice ahead, the early feel around camp is that a real identity is taking hold.
At the center of that is Carl Granderson, who has been one of the most reliable voices and presences in camp. The veteran edge rusher has helped set the tone for a defense that looks intent on being physical, disciplined and fast. If that level holds and the unit keeps climbing, New Orleans could end up with one of the NFL’s more underrated defenses.
The Saints are also letting Kellen Moore’s approach develop naturally. Rather than pushing for instant answers, the coaching staff is using camp to sort out who can win when the reps get competitive. That has put the emphasis on accountability, communication and situational football - the kind of details that rarely drive August headlines but usually matter when the games start counting.
Granderson, coming off a 2025 season in which he played all 17 games and posted 57 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and his first career interception, said he expects the defense to look even quicker and more violent this year.
"I've been putting my hands on people," Granderson said with a smile, eliciting a laugh from the media in attendance, "so it don't matter to me. It's just another opportunity to hit. Everybody was pumped up, but we still have to make sure we're doing our job, our assignment, and execute.
"We got one year under our belt under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, so this year we're going play much faster, more physical, and we're going to do our job," Granderson told the media. "We're out there flying around, making less mental errors, less mistakes, and we're playing fast.
That kind of confidence has matched what’s been reported from camp: a defense that’s moving with more speed, fewer mental mistakes and better precision. The Saints still have to turn those flashes into something real, but the early signs are strong.
There’s still plenty to sort out before Week 1, and preseason will tell a lot more. Tyler Shough’s development remains a major storyline, Kool-Aid McKinstry and the young secondary are still worth tracking, and the battle for depth spots across the roster is far from settled. But for now, the Saints appear to have something useful to build on: a defense setting the tone and a team slowly finding its shape.
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