Jayden Price is turning heads at New Orleans Saints training camp, and his No. 38 is starting to show up everywhere in the play-by-play.
The backup “Star” defender is making a real push for a spot on the 53-man roster, and the Saints are taking notice. Price has yet to appear in a meaningful NFL game, but he’s not walking into this camp blind. He joined New Orleans in June of last year after leading the United Football League in pass breakups during the 2025 season, then spent the year on the Saints’ practice squad after not making the roster.
“Just continued to get better each and every day,” Price said about his experience learning the “Star” position with the Saints in 2025. “Had a good spring, (I’m) just trying to build on that here at this training camp.”
That approach has impressed the people around him. Coach Kellen Moore pointed to Price as a player who took full advantage of the practice squad route and kept building through the offseason.
“Another example of going to the practice squad and taking advantage of the season,” said coach Kellen Moore. “You go through the whole offseason and just get better and better. You can certainly see some confidence in him just seeing him out here playing.
“He’s competing against some of the top guys in our receiver room and he’s playing toe-to-toe with those guys. He’s playing some really good football.”
Price is listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, so he doesn’t have much size to lean on at the position. What he does have is quick processing and athleticism, and that has shown up across the first 10 practices of camp. He’s been diagnosing plays quickly and getting into the action before offenses can settle in.
One example came last Sunday, when he came on a slot blitz and timed his jump to knock down a quick Spencer Rattler pass at the line of scrimmage.
“J.P. is playing really well right now,” said veteran safety Terrell Burgess. “As far as one-on-ones and team periods, he’s doing just about everything he can.
He probably has the most picks and PBUs out of (all the defensive backs). I’m excited to see how he plays in the preseason.”
Rookie receiver Bryce Lance already knew Price from their three seasons together at North Dakota State, but he said the version showing up in Saints camp looks more polished than the college player he remembered.
During one-on-ones last week, Lance ran a vertical route against Price. Lance, who stands 6-foot-3 and runs 4.34 speed, initially created some separation, but Price recovered late and got a hand on the ball.
“He was really good in college, but I think his patience and his playmaking ability (has improved),” Lance said. “He was a playmaker in college as well, but seeing the knowledge of his game grow, how he moves his feet and how he makes plays on the ball has been really cool to see.”
So far, most of Price’s work has come in the slot, but Moore said the Saints will also give him chances outside at cornerback. He’s been rotating into punt and kick return groups too, the same kind of work he handled at North Dakota State and in the UFL.
Price said his aim this camp has been simple: “play fast and confident.” Ten practices in, that’s exactly how he looks, and he’s giving himself a real shot to keep climbing.
“If you go out there timid, you’re not going to be able to play free,” Burgess said. “He’s got a lot of confidence in himself and he’s going out there and doing exactly what we think he can do.”
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