Latest news with #CarlGranderson
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Carl Granderson is the Saints Player of Day 96
We now stand 96 days away from the 2025 regular season opener for the New Orleans Saints. Sporting jersey number 96 for the Saints in a seventh straight year will be defensive end Carl Granderson. One of the few bright spots on the New Orleans defense last season, let's have a closer look at Granderson, our Saints Player of the Day, and his career to this point. Name (Age): Carl Granderson (28) Carl Granderson (28) Hometown: Sacramento, Calif. Sacramento, Calif. Position: Defensive end Defensive end Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 261 pounds 6-foot-5, 261 pounds Relative Athletic Score: 7.68 7.68 College: Wyoming Cowboys Wyoming Cowboys Drafted: Undrafted, 2019 (New Orleans Saints) Undrafted, 2019 (New Orleans Saints) NFL experience: 6 seasons 6 seasons 2025 salary cap hit: $6,482,000 A graduate of Grant Union High School in California, Granderson took his talents to the University of Wyoming. He'd be with the Cowboys for four years, compiling totals of 17.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss while intercepting 3 passes and scoring two defensive touchdowns. Granderson led the Mountain West Conference with 16 stops for loss in 2017, adding 9.5 sacks on his way to first team All-Conference honors. He'd earn second team All-MWC accolades in 2018 with 3 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. A probable Day 2 pick in the 2019 NFL draft, Granderson slipped out of the draft altogether because of legal issues stemming from incidents at Wyoming. Those legal difficulties forced him to be inactive for the first half of his first NFL season after the Saints signed him as an undrafted rookie. Once behind him, Granderson began slowly working his way up the New Orleans depth chart. He was a rotational player for his first four seasons, averaging under 40% of the defensive snaps per year. However, he also showed tremendous potential and growth between 2019 and 2022. In limited opportunities, Granderson had 14.5 sacks, 28 QB hits, and 19 tackles for loss in those first four campaigns. By 2023, Granderson was a regular starter for New Orleans, averaging around 75% of the defensive snaps over the last two years. Over that time, he has 14 sacks, 60 pressures, 33 QB hits, and 23 tackles for negative yardage. He led the Saints in all four categories in 2023 while leading the team in negative tackles last season. There is some question where Granderson's fit will be in a new defensive scheme under coordinator Brandon Staley expected to run more 3-4 concepts. His length and speed around the edge could make him an excellent stand-up rusher, but his size will also allow him to play as a down lineman. Arguably the Saints most disruptive defender over the last two seasons, expect Carl Granderson to again be a vital part of New Orleans defensive packages again under Brandon Staley in 2025.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Most Underrated Saints Player Highlighted By PFF
The New Orleans Saints haven't gotten much respect from oddsmakers or through the national media this offseason. Some of that is valid. The Saints are coming off a 5-12 season and four years without a playoff appearance. New Orleans has a new coach in Kellen Moore and a new opening day starting quarterback in either Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler. Advertisement The Saints do have some talent. Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed are explosive offensive threats. Erik McCoy is one of the finest centers in the game, and tackle Taliese Fuaga is a rapidly rising young talent. On defense, Demario Davis remains one of the league's best all-around defenders. Bryan Bresee is becoming a disruptive force, with defensive backs Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor looking poised to take the next step among the NFL's best. Bresee, McKinstry, Olave, and Shaheed are often overlooked in national circles. However, Pro Football Focus (PFF) identifies another New Orleans player that might be the most underrated on the Saints roster. Carl Granderson, DE Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96). Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images In an article through PFF last week, writer Jonathan Macri highlights the most underrated player on every NFL roster heading into the 2025-26 season. Former Saint David Onyemata was Macri's choice for the Atlanta Falcons. Here was why Macri identified Granderson for the Saints. ''Granderson's teammate Cameron Jordan has long been a poster boy for the league's most underrated players, but with Jordan reaching the end of his career, Granderson has taken over that lead edge defender role and is potentially an underrated player in his own right. Over the past two regular seasons, Granderson has delivered 119 quarterback pressures — the 16th most among all players at his position. He not only adds much-needed pass-rush upside, but his 80.7 PFF run-defense grade since 2022 ranks tied for 12th at the position.'' Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) is pressured by New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96). Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Granderson, 28, was signed by the Saints as an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming in 2019. He was a rotational or situational player over his first four seasons. Despite limited snaps in 54 games, he still managed 14.5 sacks, 28 QB hits, and 20 tackles for loss. Advertisement Since 2023, Granderson has started all 34 contests and appeared in over 75% of the Saints' defensive snaps. In 2023, Granderson had 8.5 sacks, 20 QB hits, and 14 tackles for loss to lead the team in all three categories. Last season, Granderson's 9 stops for loss again led all New Orleans defenders. He also had 5.5 sacks and 13 QB hits to finish second on the team. New Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is expected to incorporate more 3-4 concepts in the team's defense. This may fit Granderson's best attributes even better as the Saints look to improve on a defense that ranked a lowly 30th overall and managed only 39 sacks. New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96) rushes against the Green Bay Packers. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images At 6'5" and 261-Lbs., Granderson is a lengthy athlete with a long reach and excellent bend around the edge. His run defense has improved through his career, but he's most impactful to the Saints defense as a pass rusher. Advertisement New Orleans did not address their edge rusher position until the seventh round of the draft and not at all through outside free agents. They did re-sign Chase Young, who had a similar statistical output as Granderson in 2024 with 5.5 sacks, 21 QB hits, and 8 tackles for loss. The Saints logic clearly was that they expect Carl Granderson and Chase Young to be more disruptive as stand-up rushers in Brandon Staley's system. For this to work, Granderson must transform from underrated player to one of the league's most disruptive pass rushers. Related: Undrafted Delaware Back Marcus Yarns Has The Skills To Crack New Orleans Saints Roster Related: Undrafted Edge Jasheen Davis Could Add Speed That's Lacked In Saints Pass Rush Related: New Orleans Saints 2025-26 NFL Schedule Breakdown Related: Undrafted Chris Tyree Has Skills To Become Another Of The Saints Overlooked Gems Related: Rutgers Linebacker Tyreem Powell May Be An Undrafted Gem For Saints Defense Related: Undrafted Omari Thomas Looks To Continue His SEC Success With Saints
