Saints pass rush converting sacks at higher rate under Brandon Staley

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

While the pressure numbers aren’t likely where the New Orleans Saints’ defense would like them to be, the team’s ability to convert the pressures they do generate into sacks has taken a major step forward in 2025.

Under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s system, the Saints are converting pressures into sacks at a 22% clip, tied for No. 4 in the league with the Tennessee Titans. That rate is up nearly five percent from last year’s 17.4%.

The #Saints defense has gone from being a high pressure, low sack unit to a high sack, low pressure one in just one offseason.

2024: 17.2% sack (39) to pressure (227) rate (No. 26 in the NFL)
2025: 22% sack (24) to pressure (109) rate (T-No. 4 in the NFL) pic.twitter.com/UJj9JyPAS9

— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) November 26, 2025

The downside is that New Orleans has generated only 109 pressures on the season, per Pro Football Focus. That’s the least in the NFL.

Through the first 12 weeks of the 2024 season, New Orleans had generated 141 pressures but only reigned in 25 sacks. Despite the 32 pressure difference, the Saints currently have 24 sacks on the season, just one shy of last year’s total through this point.

Should the team have generated 141 pressures this year and maintained the conversion rate of 2025, the defense would be sitting near 31 sacks, which would tie them for No. 9 in the league with the Los Angeles Rams. Right now, the Saints are No. 20 in sacks instead.

During the offseason, further bolstering Staley’s pass rushers should be a priority goal for New Orleans in order to take advantage of this very important and positive change for the defense.

Edge rusher coach Jay Rodgers and defensive line coach Bo Davis also share in the turnaround for New Orleans and will play a large role in the team’s goal to continue to raise its overall pressure numbers while maintaining the newfound ability to get the quarterback to the ground. Finally, a long-standing issue with “almost-sacks” appears to be approaching the team’s rearview mirror.