The defensive interior of the New Orleans Saints is a unit that’s looking to continue training in the right direction going into the 2026 season. With boosts coming from both new and returning talent, this position group has a chance to be an impactful one going into its second year with defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and defensive line coach Bo Davis.
This offseason, the Saints could see steps forward at this position thanks to its recent second-round investment in rookie defensive tackle Christen Miller out of Georgia. He will join a room of veterans vying for positioning on the depth chart. While Miller doesn’t have much to worry about when it comes to making the roster, his positioning in the rotation could be impacted with a strong showing during training camp.
Additionally, the team is likely to see another boost with the return of a previous draft investment, who may also be on the fast track to make the roster.
Interior Defenders – 4 (31)
- Bryan Bresee
- Davon Godchaux
- Vernon Broughton
- Christen Miller
With Miller’s prowess as both a run-stopper and pass rusher, he’s sure to be an immediate contributor as a rookie.
Meanwhile, the team aims to get a big season out of last year’s third-round investment at the position, Vernon Broughton. Another lauded run stopper, Broughton would be a complement to veteran Bryan Bresee, lining up across from him as a 3-4 defensive end.
While Miller and Godchaux focus on plugging the middle, Bresee and Broughton would hold down the responsibilities at 3- and 5-tech. However, this slim roster leaves much to be desired from a rotational standpoint. Therefore, an edge player like Tyree Wilson or otherwise would have to move into the interior, even at 5-tech to help keep legs fresh.
It’s a good thing that this projection is just about laying the foundation for what will change a number of times throughout camp, because otherwise the team may be far too light on the interior. Look for players like John Ridgeway III and Myles Cole to do a lot of work in earning a spot here by the time camp has concluded.
Previous Projections
- Quarterbacks (3)
- Running backs (4)
- Tight Ends (3)
- Wide Receivers (6)
- Interior Offensive Line (6)
- Offensive Tackles (4)
- EDGE Rushers (5)
