By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS — A shift to incorporate more three-man defensive fronts is anticipated for the New Orleans Saints in 2025, which could open the door to a larger role for one second-year defensive tackle.
New Orleans hired defensive coordinator Brandon Staley this offseason and with him will come a new defensive scheme. This new approach will require big bodies in the middle of the defensive line to help slow down opposing teams rushing attacks and change the number for focused pass rushers off the edge. That could create an opportunity for second-year defensive tackle Khristian Boyd to step into a bigger role as a heavier part of the Saints’ defensive line rotation.
One element that is very unlikely to change for New Orleans is their rotation of defensive line players. Keeping the legs and bodies of their attacking trench players is key for the Saints to have late-game impact from the unit. So while Boyd may not be in line for 40-50 snaps per game, he could be in line to top his rookie per game average of just 12.3 over his six appearances.
Entering the NFL at 6-foot-2 and 325 pounds, Boyd is the perfect build for a 0/1-tech nose tackle that can line up over the offensive line’s center and plug the middle of an offense.
Northern Iowa DT Khristian Boyd — a surprise omission from last week’s NFL combine — has seven pre-draft visits lined up so far, including the #Lions and #Saints this week.
Boyd is 6-4, 317 and turned heads at the East-West Shrine Bowl with reps like this. pic.twitter.com/4Wxvwaw1Eu
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 5, 2024
The Northern Iowa product was praised for his strength and prototypical size during his draft process last year. NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote the following as a part of his overview of Boyd:
“He plays with adequate upper-body power, but he doesn’t press and shed blocks quickly enough to be a big factor as a run stuffer despite his bend and anchor at the point of attack. Boyd has the size and power to wage battle against NFL centers at the nose, but he might not have enough positive impact to do anything more than fight for a rotational spot as a late-Day 3 pick.”
A rotation player is all a defensive tackle often needs to be in today’s NFL. While the opportunities weren’t necessarily there for him during his rookie year, with Staley in the building and new defensive system on the way, that could change quickly. Boyd will be one to watch closely throughout training camp as he battles for his 53-man roster spot and chance to become a reliable contributor in 2025.
