The New Orleans Saints may have found a real weapon in Jonas Sanker, and the third-round pick’s second season could be even more dangerous if Brandon Staley uses him the right way.
Sanker was thrown into the fire as a rookie in 2025, starting 16 games and showing enough to make it clear he belongs. The bigger story now is what comes next in 2026, because the Saints appear to have a clear path to getting more out of him: move him closer to the ball and let him play in the slot.
That matters because Sanker's rookie year told two very different stories depending on where he lined up. When New Orleans kept him deep as a roaming single-high safety, the results were uneven. Vertical attacks gave the defense trouble, and miscommunications on deep routes sometimes left Sanker chasing the play or arriving a beat late against over-the-top speed.
Up near the line of scrimmage, though, he looked like a different player.
In the box or around the flat, Sanker showed off the kind of downhill tackling that stands out right away. He was described as arguably the best pure tackler in the Saints' defensive back room, and he rarely missed when he had a chance to wrap up ball carriers. He also showed he can handle tight ends in the short-to-intermediate passing game, using his frame and coverage feel to stay attached.
That is why the “STAR” role makes so much sense. Reports from OTAs and minicamp suggest the Saints are shifting Sanker from deep safety into a hybrid slot spot, and that kind of move plays directly into what he does best. Instead of asking him to patrol the back end, New Orleans can use him to attack downhill against the run, blitz off the edge, and match up with physical slot receivers and tight ends.
There will still be an adjustment period. The nickel spot brings its own challenges, especially against quick slot targets who can break in or out and force a defender to process everything faster. September could come with some growing pains.
Even so, the upside is obvious. By putting Sanker closer to the football, the Saints can cover up the deep-field issues that showed up as a rookie and lean harder into the traits that already flashed. If that transition sticks, number 33 has a real chance to become a productive, more consistent, and better version of himself in 2026.
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