Saints Draft Targeting Scouting Report: Auburn EDGE Keyron Crawford
By Ross Jackson
The edge rusher class in this year’s NFL Draft is one of the deepest position talent pools available across the 2026 selection process. That’s great news for the New Orleans Saints who could be looking to add to that very position group before the draft concludes.
One of this year’s most promising, young prospects is Auburn edge rusher Keyron Crawford. Unlike his teammate, Keldric Faulk, Crawford isn’t expected to go early in this year’s draft. Making him an option as one of this year’s top sleepers at the position.
Auburn EDGE Keyron Crawford
Age: 22
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 253 pounds
Arm length: 32 inches
Hand size: 9 inches
Auburn edge rusher Keyron Crawford is one of my favorite later-round edge otions in this draft class so far
– lethal 2 hand swipe
– impressive run defender for his size, holds his ground against double teams at 255 lbs
– twitchy athlete
– pop in his hands pic.twitter.com/8095nAgfOZ— Drew Beatty (@IronCityFilm) January 6, 2026
Crawford didn’t start playing football until his senior year of high school. While that may scare some teams away, the Saints should be locked in on this prospect. He’d be a perfectly moldable player for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley to lead the development of with the tutelage of players like Chase Young and Carl Granderson who came from opposite sides of the NFL Draft spectrum.
The Auburn defender is sleek and twitchy with great speed, size and athleticism. He’d be a strong collection of skills for Staley and EDGEs coach Jay Rodgers to help build up.
New Orleans’ defensive system would be a comfortable one for Crawford to fit into having played the “Buck” role in Auburn’s defense. That role asks players to rush the passer, defend the run and drop back into space. Crawford’s experience doing each would be ideal for Staley’s defense. For example, he dropped back into coverage on 20.5% of his defensive snaps in 2025, Granderson did so on on just 13.34% of his.
2025 Stats
Total tackles: 36
Tackles for a loss: 9.5
Sacks: 5
PFF Pressures: 43
Interceptions: 1
Fumbles forced: 1
Fumbles recovered: 1
Auburn’s Keyron Crawford blows up Diego Pavia 😳
pic.twitter.com/eiCRmKwWj2— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) January 31, 2026
Pros
+ Perfect scheme fit as a standup pass rusher in Saints’ system.
+ Has experience dropping back into coverage.
+ High-motor player that loves to play through the whistle.
+ Has a knack for making chase-down and hustle plays.
+ Would get to the league with special teams value.
+ High career and 2025 pass rush win rates.
+ Learned a complex position in Auburn’s defense quickly.
Opportunities for Growth
– Didn’t start playing football until senior year of high school.
– More polish in pass rush than run defense, but needs development in both.
– Could benefit from being taught more measured and calculated approaches to pass rushing.
– Lots of diving or arm tackle attempts on tape.
The Bottom Line
If the Saints aren’t able to land an edge rusher in the first round of the NFL Draft, Crawford would be an excellent option in Day 2. He’s projected to be a second- or third-round selection, putting him in perfect position for the Saints to fall back on if top edge rushers fly off of the board quickly.
Doubling up at defensive end might make sense a little later, just to make sure that Crawford is able to hold on to a specialized role as he continues to learn and develop. But landing in New Orleans would be an excellent fit for the promising young pass rusher.
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