The Saints may be staring at a major hit on defense after Bryan Bresee was believed to have torn his ACL in practice today, according to Ian Rapoport.
That diagnosis still has to be confirmed by an MRI, but the concern alone is a tough blow for New Orleans. Bresee had been positioned for what looked like a real breakout year, with the Saints counting on him as a key piece up front.
The timing makes it sting even more. New Orleans just picked up Bresee’s fifth-year option this past May, a clear sign the team was investing in him as part of its future.
Bresee is 24 and came into the league with plenty of pedigree. He was one of the country’s top high school recruits, then spent three seasons at Clemson.
In 2020, he earned freshman All-American honors and first-team All-ACC recognition. Even while dealing with injuries in 2021 and 2022, he still managed to make second- and third-team all-conference.
The Saints took him with the No. 29 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year, $13,403,202 contract that included a $6,747,783 signing bonus.
By the time New Orleans exercised his fifth-year option, Bresee was entering the fourth year of that deal. The option is worth $13.931 million and is fully guaranteed for the 2027 season.
On the field in 2025, Bresee played in 15 games and finished with 37 total tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and three pass deflections.
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Bucs Made One Draft Choice That Will Fuel Debate For Years
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In the end, the Bucs passed on the extra draft capital and stayed at 15 to take Rueben Bain Jr., a choice that makes sense when viewed through how highly they had him graded. The video only deepens the debate because it confirms Tampa Bay had real options on the table, and it also shows the franchise was willing to trust its board and chase a player it clearly believed was worth more than the trade-down package. [Read more 🡒]