By Ross Jackson
Every offseason, there are underdog players that find their way onto NFL rosters. Looking over the 90-man group of New Orleans Saints players, there are some that meet the underdog criteria, looking to be the next surprise competitors to land a role in the Big Easy.
Sometimes those roles are as consistent contributors. Sometimes they are depth or practice squad players, but in every case, these are major opportunities for those that earn them.
A newcomer goes into focus this time: a safety with ties to the coaching staff that signed as a free agent this offseason. While most of his time in the NFL has been spent on special teams, his role could expand drastically if he finds a spot with the Saints.
Safety Terrell Burgess
Burgess entered the NFL in 2020 as a third-round selection out of Utah. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams where Saints defense coordinator Brandon Staley was about to lead the Rams defense to becoming No. 1 in the league.
His connection with Stanley was brief, but has now led to his arrival years later with New Orleans.
Burgess spent two full seasons with the Rams before being waived in 2022. He immediately landed with the New York Giants and spent 2023 with the Washington Commanders before being on the Buffalo Bills’ injured reserve list through 2024.
The Oceanside, Calif. native now seeks to find a new landing spot with Staley and the Saints this year, playing for a defense that benefits from versatility and experience. Both of which Burgess brings to the table.
Burgess has played near or at least 100 snaps at numerous positions throughout his career:
- Box safety
- Cornerback
- Slot cornerback
- Free Safety
One of my favorite players in the draft, Utah safety/slot Terrell Burgess.
-No. 2 coverage grade from the slot last year.
-0 penalties in his college career.
-Versatility for your secondary pic.twitter.com/TkI5RkDxIi— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) April 20, 2020
He has also been a core contributor in many phases of special teams, bolstering his chances of making a challenging roster.
The Uphill Battle
The safety joins a room filled to the brim with incumbent talent and incoming investments. Veterans Tyrann Mathieu, J.T. Gray and Jordan Howden remained with the team over the offseason. New Orleans also re-signed versatile defensive back Ugo Amadi.
The Saints have also added several new faces to the group including big-ticket free agent acquisition and Louisiana-native Justin Ried, third-round rookie Jonas Sanker and undrafted rookie Elliott Davison.
Standout Moments So Far
The safety immediately stands out because he was a rookie minicamp tryout that panned out and was signed. He and wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones both share that success already this offseason, and both have a real shot at making this year’s Saints’ roster.
On the field through OTAs and mandatory minicamp, the versatile defender stands out by lining up everywhere in the defensive secondary. One of the best ways to make an NFL roster is to show that you can bring value at multiple positions on the field. Burgess has done exactly that.
Burgess’ Resume
The former Ute is known for his tackling ability along with his aforementioned versatility. In his final year with Utah (2019), he finished third on the team with 81 total tackles.
His ability to line up anywhere in the defensive secondary will be of interest to Staley in his new New Orleans defense. The Saints will look to disguise and take opposing quarterbacks by surprise and a skill set like the one Burgess possesses.
He also brings championship experience to the Saints’ locker room. Burgess appeared in every game on the way to the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI championship win.
Why Burgess Has A Shot
Burgess may have his best advantage by making the roster through special teams contributions. His ability to play multiple positions on defense could make him valuable depth, but if he is going to snag a roster spot, it might be more about what he can add in kick and punt coverages.
Even landing on the practice squad could be a good fit for Burgess. With additional activations available for practice squad players in recent years and six veteran slots allowed, Burgess could see himself landing on the practice squad, elevated to help on special teams and then perhaps proving his way on to the active roster through his regular season opportunities.
