Jaquan Brisker reveals he was set to get drafted by the Saints
Jaquan Brisker reveals he was set to get drafted by the Saints
It seems as if new Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and safety Jaquan Brisker were always destined to work together at some point. That time has finally come ahead of the 2025 season.
Brisker, entering his fourth season in the NFL with the Bears, sat down with Kyle Odegard of Casino Beat for a one-on-one interview, where he discussed the new coaching staff he's set to play under. While Brisker explained how excited he was to work with head coach Ben Johnson, he also discussed getting the chance to play under Allen as his new defensive coordinator.
It's a pairing that has been a few years in the making, going back to the 2022 NFL Draft. Brisker told Odegard that during the NFL Combine, Allen, then the coach of the New Orleans Saints, planned to select the Penn State standout with their second-round pick:
When we were in the draft, Dennis Allen and I met at the combine and they told me at 49 they were going to take me. They were going to pick me and I was like one pick away. So there was that connection always there. They had signed Tyrann [Mathieu], so I was going to come in to play next to him.'
There are many instances where teams claim they were going to select a certain player in the draft, but for one reason or another, it never comes to fruition. In the Saints case, though, it's likely Allen was telling the truth. The Bears sniped Brisker with the No. 48 overall pick, one selection in front of the Saints, who lost both starting safeties that offseason. New Orleans then selected cornerback Alontae Taylor with the No. 49 pick, still bolstering their secondary.
Three years later, Brisker and Allen reunited, and the 25-year-old safety is excited about finally getting the opportunity to work with the veteran coach. The two had a chance to chat following Allen's hiring, where they reminisced about their chat at the NFL Combine:
Yeah, we both kind of brought it up. He's like, 'finally, we get to connect'. And, you know, you get to coach me, I can play for you. So it was a great moment, because at the combine, I had a great interview with them, and I love Coach Allen. I still remember what he was trying to teach me at the Combine and said that to him, and he was laughing.
It seems Allen and Brisker were destined to work together, and both men are looking for a bounce-back season. Brisker was off to a stellar campaign in 2024 before a serious concussion sidelined him for the final 12 games. Allen, meanwhile, was fired midseason from the Saints after going 2-7 in 2024. It would be fitting to see them help each other improve in 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
29 minutes ago
- USA Today
Jets' Will McDonald IV a 'beast' after adding weight in the offseason
Jets' Will McDonald IV a 'beast' after adding weight in the offseason New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn recently provided an update on edge defender Will McDonald IV, saying that the former first-rounder has added weight to his frame this offseason. "He's a dynamic athlete for a guy of his stature," Glenn said during the team's OTAs. "I think he's like 6-4, like 240... he actually weighed in more than that because he's gained about 15 pounds." At his new playing weight, McDonald was a bright spot at OTAs, continuously getting after the passer and disrupting the offense. He was called a "beast" by NFL reporter Connor Hughes of SNY after a showing at OTAs where Hughes says McDonald got home for three sacks on the day. The added weight hasn't slowed McDonald down, and it seems to have brought his game to another level. While McDonald finished tied for 12th in the league with 10.5 sacks and 8th in the league with 68 pressures, the hope for him is that the added weight will help him develop into a well-rounded defensive end, specifically one who can be more effective in defending the run. Among 211 edge defenders in 2024, he ranked 205th in run defense grade (39.5), according to Pro Football Focus. "It's very good for him because it allows him to set the edge a lot better," Glenn said on McDonald adding some weight. "He has really long arms... he's a guy that has a skillset as far as rushing the passer that... I haven't been around a lot of guys just in my coaching tenure like what we have with him. I'm going to enjoy seeing exactly what he's gonna be able to do for us... and we're gonna let him loose." Going into year three in the NFL, McDonald is already a very productive pass rusher, but now he has the chance to propel himself into the upper echelon of edge rushers in the league if he can improve his strength and run defense. If McDonald plays like the "beast" from OTAs during this coming regular season, and his run defense takes steps forward with his bigger frame, it could set him up for a big-time pay day in the future. The Jets will have to make a decision on his fifth-year option, and McDonald is making it seem like a no-brainer for Jets brass at this point. McDonald will enter this year with a new jersey number, going from his old number 99 to his new number 9.
USA Today
44 minutes ago
- USA Today
Ravens GM confirms team is in 'introductory stage' of contract talks with Lamar Jackson
Ravens GM confirms team is in 'introductory stage' of contract talks with Lamar Jackson During an appearance on the BMore Baseball Podcast, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta confirmed that the team is in the 'introductory stage' of contract talks with Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP and arguably should have won the award in 2024. Baltimore's 2025 NFL season is quickly approaching, and the Ravens' focus has shifted to reshaping the roster and preparing for a juggernaut of a schedule. The Ravens have made fifth-year option decisions on Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum, while Jackson will have a cap hit of over $70 million for the 2026 season. During March's NFL owners' meetings in Florida, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Jackson is due for a new deal that will once again make him the highest-paid player in NFL history. That hasn't happened yet, but DeCosta, during an appearance on the BMore Baseball Podcast, confirmed that those discussions have started. 'We've had some conversations before the draft, after the draft, in person last week,' DeCosta said, via the team's website. 'I think we're in the introductory sort of stage of looking at what an extension might look like.' Last week, former sports agent and CBS Sports lead analyst Joel Corry masterfully broke down the leverage Jackson again holds over the franchise with his 2026 and 2027 cap hits being unworkable for the organization. The Ravens have more urgency for a new deal than Jackson although he has dropped to the NFL's 10th-highest-paid player after Brock Purdy's recent five-year, $265 million contract extension, averaging $53 million per year, with the San Francisco 49ers. Patience can be Jackson's best friend because his salary cap number jumps from $43.5 million in 2025 to an unmanageable $74.5 million in 2026 and also in 2027. The $74.5 million is 2026's third highest cap number. Fortunately for Jackson, Harbaugh conceded at the league meetings that Jackson was going to be put back at the top of the NFL salary hierarchy with his next contract. "The value is the top," Harbaugh said. "When Lamar gets paid, he's going to be the highest-paid player in football, just like he was last time. I think every contract he signs till he decides to hang up his cleats, he's going to be that guy." These dynamics give Jackson, who represents himself and has never had an agent, significant leverage in negotiations. He shouldn't think about twice about using the existing circumstances to his advantage. As Corry pointed out, Jackson just finished the second year of a five-year, $260 million contract signed with the Baltimore Ravens on May 4, 2023. Of this, $185 million is guaranteed, of which $135 million was fully guaranteed at signing. As of this article, Jackson is the 10th highest-paid quarterback in the NFL after Brock Purdy's new contract. Corry highlighted that based on recent trends with Dak Prescott and Josh Allen, Jackson can justify $65.5 million to $67 million per year" for a contract extension he signs in the coming months. With inflation and an adjustment for the 24.2% increase of the salary cap since he signed in 2023, Jackson could command upwards of $64.5 million per year.
CBS News
44 minutes ago
- CBS News
Mac Jones embraces fresh start with 49ers after getting passed over in 2021 NFL Draft
Mac Jones is happy finally to be with coach Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers even if it came four years after many expected. Jones was linked to San Francisco leading into the 2021 draft but was passed over and ended up in New England. Now after an up and down first four years in the NFL, Jones is trying to revive his career as a backup to Brock Purdy in Shanahan's offense. "Obviously the world works in mysterious ways," Jones said Wednesday. "I'm glad to be back here and learning from a great group of guys, and that's players and coaches. You go where you go in the draft, right? You don't get a lot of choice over that, but I'm definitely excited to be here now." Jones and San Francisco were closely linked leading up to the 2021 draft after the Niners traded three first-round picks to get the No. 3 overall selection. Shanahan was looking to draft a franchise quarterback and was debating between Jones and Trey Lance before San Francisco finally opted for Lance. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws the ball during San Francisco 49ers OTA on June 4, 2025 at SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara. Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The move backfired as Lance struggled to stay healthy and adjust to Shanahan's system. He made only four starts in two seasons before being traded to Dallas for a fourth-round pick in August 2023, having lost the starting job to Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 draft. Jones had a fast start to his career, helping New England make the playoffs in his rookie season. But Jones regressed the next year after offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left for Las Vegas, and he was replaced as the starter in 2023. Jones was traded to Jacksonville last March and started seven games for the Jaguars, throwing eight TD passes and eight interceptions. Jones has made 49 career starts, posting an 84.9 passer rating with 54 TD passes, 44 interceptions and averaging 6.7 yards per attempt. He said he didn't hesitate to pick San Francisco in his first shot at free agency and has hopes a stint as a backup here can spark his career in a similar fashion to what happened to Sam Darnold after he spent the 2023 season with the Niners. "I always love watching their tape," Jones said. "When you look at stats around the league, they're always in the top five, you see the little San Francisco logo. So I always love watching what Kyle did throughout the years and to finally get in and learn it, it's been a little bit challenging, but also a great challenge because it's things, some things I've done and some things I haven't done at all." Jones has had a different play caller every season in the NFL and said learning another new offense is like "drinking from a water hose." Quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi said that experience pays dividends this spring. "He's not new to this," Lombardi said. "He's not new to kind of new terminology new footwork and how to be coached differently. The one thing I love about Mac is he's always here. He's always willing to try new try new things. He's not stuck in his ways, and he really wants to try and do it our way." Lombardi and Jones have familiarity with Lombardi serving as receivers coach in New England when Jones was a rookie in 2021. Jones and Purdy have a relationship that goes even further, with Jones hosting Purdy on a recruiting visit to Alabama in 2018 and the two have thrown together in the offseason near Jacksonville before Jones signed with San Francisco. "We talked about that and joked around with it a little bit, just him being at Alabama and really before he took off too with his career and the amazing, obviously the National Championship run he had and then getting drafted and everything," Purdy said. "It's pretty cool. We were both just young kids both heading into college and then now here we are on the same team. It's pretty cool."
