Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
Of all of the position groups across the New Orleans Saints’ roster, the defensive line is the unit that has the most to prove in 2025.
Young quarterbacks will battle it out, offensive lineman look to stay healthy and available, however the defensive line will have to show it can improve from 2024’s performance.
After coming up shy of 40 sacks again last year and finishing ranked No. 31 in run defense across the league, the unit only saw a few changes and additions over the offseason. Any progress made along the defensive line will come down to the players and their new coaches.
Defensive line coach Bo Davis and EDGEs coach Jay Rodgers both have a big task ahead of them with new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
With linemen Payton Turner and Tanoh Kpassagnon out, and new faces Vernon Broughton, Jonah Williams and Davon Godchaux there are key exchanges along what will now be the interior of the defensive line, which will fall under Davis’ supervision.
On the edge, the only new faces are rookies Fadil Diggs and Jasheen Davis, as well as free agent addition Chris Rumph.
This will be the unit tasked with creating its improvement with a mostly returning corps in 2025. The team ranked No. 14 in the league in total pressures with 217, but finished with just 39 sacks.
If the team can boost their pressure to sack conversions, that would go a long way in showing progress for the position group. That and the benefit that some of their newcomers could bring to the run defense could be difference makers over the next few years.
