Dec 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons linebacker Matthew Judon (15) rushes the passer against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
It’s been an eventful offseason for the New Orleans Saints, but their work shouldn’t be considered done. With training camp on the way there are many moves that could still be made. Among them are two ways to solidify their defense now and in the future.
Extend Cornerback Alontae Taylor
This one is a two-way street. Not only would the Saints need to be interested in extending Taylor (which they absolutely should be) but Taylor and his representation will have to be willing to take an early deal.
Taylor and his team could decide to bet on the disruptive defender’s likelihood of having a standout 2025 season. In which case, he could be in line for a much larger deal than were he to take one this offseason.
But if the player side sees more value in security than potential earnings, then these talks could happen and advance throughout training camp. Keeping Taylor around would be a big win for New Orleans. He’s a destructive player when on the inside and showed real potential on the boundary his rookie year performing well against star wide receivers like DeAndre Hopkins and Davante Adams.
He has a chance to be a major part of New Orleans’ future on defense. Keeping him in a Saints uniform should be a priority.
Sign Edge Rusher Matthew Judon to a One-Year Deal
New Orleans could use another edge rusher to rotate in, at least through training camp. The position has a lot of promise thanks to the team’s new system but another option to hold a role would be good.
Judon signed with the Atlanta Falcons last year and had a down season for his standard. But then again, the Falcons’ pass rush has been historically bad for around two decades now. Judon doesn’t believe that the drop in production had much to do with him, but instead with the way he was utilized in the system.
“Hell no,” Judon said in an interview with Cardinals Insider Kyle Odegard when asked if bad luck was to blame. “If you go look at the film, I dropped [into coverage] on 60% of the plays. It’s hard to get a pick and a sack on the same play.”
In defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s system, he would be able to be a bit more focused as a pass rusher, though he would have to drop into coverage every now and then.
Judon had just 5.5 sacks over his 17 appearances last year. While that was low for him, it would have tied with edge rushers Chase Young and Carl Granderson in 2024. Aside from his injury-riddled 2023 season, Judon played his fewest total defensive snaps since 2020, fewest pass rushing snaps since his rookie year in 2016 and dropped into coverage more than he has since 2021.
Signing with New Orleans would put him back with EDGEs coach Jay Rodgers and in a system that would ask him to do what the Falcons sound like they were: get after the quarterback.
