The New Orleans Saints got one name on Dalton Wasserman’s PFF list of the NFL’s top 32 safeties, but not both of the players some might have expected to see.
That lone Saints entry is Justin Reid, who checks in at No. 22, placed between Green Bay’s Evan Williams and Pittsburgh’s Jalen Ramsey. The list includes 32 safeties, and while several teams landed two players on it, the Saints did not join that group.
The Los Angeles Rams were the biggest outlier, putting three safeties on the board: No. 10 Kamren Kinchens, No.
12 Kamren Karl, and No. 30 Quentin Lake.
Reid’s placement comes after a season that looked very different from one year to the next. PFF said he was excellent in 2024 with Kansas City, posting a 78.2 overall grade and finishing with 76.5-plus marks in all three major grading categories.
His first year in New Orleans wasn’t as clean. His overall grade dropped to 66.7, with coverage and missed tackles driving the dip, even though his run defense still landed at a solid 77.0.
That’s the version of Reid the Saints are counting on changing this season. New Orleans is banking on him to get back to the level he showed before, especially with one of the league’s youngest secondaries around him.
The Saints’ defensive backfield has plenty of moving parts and plenty of intrigue. Alontae Taylor left in free agency, but there’s still a lot of optimism around Kool-Aid McKinstry, Jonas Sanker, Justin Reid, Quincy Riley, and Julian Blackmon.
Reid’s fit also ties into what Brandon Staley is building. He’ll need to clean up the coverage issues, but another year in Staley’s defense, paired with the Saints pass rush, could help unlock more consistency. ESPN lists Sanker as a backup on the depth chart, though there has been speculation that Staley wants to use him in the “star” role.
That role is a flexible one, with the “star” functioning as a nickel corner, extra linebacker, and safety all at once. It gives the defense a piece that can move around and do a little of everything.
For the Saints, Reid is the headliner on this list, but the bigger picture is the same one that’s been building all offseason: this secondary has room to grow, and plenty of upside if it starts clicking. With the defense showing well in training camp, the Saints’ back end could take another step forward this season.
In Other News...
Jayden Price Is Making Noise In A Saints Battle That Isnt Settled
The Saints cornerback competition has been one of the more watchable parts of camp, and Jayden Price has kept himself in the conversation with a steady training-camp showing. His value is tied to versatility, and that kind of flexibility matters for a secondary still sorting out its backups. For now, he looks like a player the staff can trust in the slot if needed, which is exactly the sort of foothold that can turn a camp performer into a real roster candidate.
Still, nothing about his spot is locked in. Price is in a crowded fight for a place on the depth chart, and the Saints will keep sorting through preseason reps before making any final decisions. The next few weeks will matter for a player who has already made some noise, but still has to prove that the early momentum is enough to stick. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Preseason Opener Could Shake Up More Than A Few Roster Spots
With the starters staying on the sideline for the preseason opener against Jacksonville, the Saints are turning the night into an extended audition for the depth chart. Training camp has already put a few rookies and fringe veterans on the radar, and that group now gets a game setting to back up the momentum they have built in practices. Among the players worth watching are running backs Audric Estime and C.J. Donaldson, wide receivers Bryce Lance, Barion Brown and Kevin Austin, plus linemen Jeremiah Wright and Christen Miller.
The stakes are straightforward even if the roster math is not. New Orleans still has to sort out who can help now and who is merely camp noise, and injuries have kept some contenders from showing everything they can do. For players on the bubble, the opener is one of the first real chances to make a case, and the Saints will be looking closely at which performances translate beyond the practice field. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Offense Has One Concern Bigger Than Tyler Shoughs Progress
Tyler Shough had some encouraging moments in joint practice against the Jacksonville Jaguars, including multiple touchdown passes that gave the Saints a glimpse of what the passing game might look like when it clicks. For a unit trying to take a step forward, that kind of work matters, especially with a young quarterback trying to settle in and build confidence against another defense.
The bigger concern, though, was what kept happening around him. The offensive line allowed plenty of pressure on Shough, a familiar problem for a quarterback who was sacked 31 times last season, and it remains a central issue as New Orleans tries to sharpen its passing attack. The Saints did bring in David Edwards to help the protection, but practice showed there is still work to do before the offense can feel truly comfortable. [Read more 🡒]