With another chance ahead at a breakout performance, New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson is bracing for a consequential 2026 season.
Lucky for him, the high-stakes year aligns with a second season on a reliable rotation and elevating defensive system that will be desperately in need of his services.
This year is the final season in which Granderson has guaranteed base salary in his contract agreement. He’s been a productive contributor for the team since becoming a full-time starter in 2023, where he notched his best season as a pass rusher with 8.5 sacks on the season.
Since 2022, Granderson has put up at least five sacks in each year.
What a breakout looks like for the seven-year pro is a little different than most players at his position. Reaching double-digit sacks is certainly a possibility, but in order for him to get there, he’ll need to prove one thing first: consistency.
Here are Granderson’s career sack and quarterback hit totals by month.
September (21 games): 11.5 sacks, 18 hits
October (27 games): five sacks, 11 hits
November (21 games): four sacks, nine hits
December (28 games): 8.5 sacks, 24 hits
January (8 games): five sacks, eight hits
The edge rusher has been able to get off to a strong start and finish with punctuation routinely throughout his career. However, the mid-season slows have been a limiting factor in his overall production.
If he produced at the same per-game rate of September and December (0.4 sacks and 0.9 hits per game) in October and November, both his mid-season sack and hit totals would be doubled.
Going into 2026, the Saints will need that consistency to arrive in full force in order to continue to build up the surging defense from last year. While fellow ends Chase Young and Cameron Jordan are sure to see a lot more attention sent their way, Granderson’s disruptive presence will be an important complement to keep opposing offenses off-balance throughout the season.
The more productive and consistent Granderson is, the better the defense becomes.
