Saints’ DT Bryan Bresee eligible for fifth-year option

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints have a series of big decisions to make this offseason regarding expiring contracts and extension negotiations. But that won’t be all for the front office. The team will also need to make a decision on 2023 first-round pick and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, whose fifth-year option is available to be picked up this offseason.

Shortly after exiting the playoff landscape, the Carolina Panthers became the first team to pick up a 2023 player’s fifth-year option by exercising the contract mechanism for quarterback Bryce Young.

The #Panthers are picking up the fifth-year option on QB Bryce Young, which will be worth more than $26.5M fully guaranteed for the 2027 season. pic.twitter.com/tPGFVt2rI0

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 13, 2026

The good news for New Orleans is that picking up Bresee’s fifth-year option won’t be anywhere near as expensive as Young’s $26.5 million price tag. 

Instead, the 2024 Saints’ season sack leader is expected to carry only a $12,999,000 salary on that fifth-year. A much more manageable situation for New Orleans. 

The NFL’s deadline to make this decision isn’t until May 1, so the Saints have ample time to work on other contract negotiations across the roster first before turning their attention to a decision that will only impact their 2027 salary cap. With the opportunity for an extension coming out of 2026, the Saints can also simply use the option as a chance to buy time before landing on a long-term deal.

Bresee’s 7.5 sacks led the team last year, followed up with just 2.5 in 2025. But the strides he made as a run defender in his new role as a 3-4 end rather than a 4-3 defensive tackle stood out to defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Unfortunately, Bresee wasn’t able to finish the season on the field after a knee injury caused him to miss the final two games of the season.

Those two missed games were his first missed as a Saints’ player, making 17 game appearances in each of the previous years despite entering the league with ample injury concerns.

If the Saints pick up Bresee’s option, he’ll receive a fully guaranteed contract in 2027. If not, he’ll be set to become a free agent after the 2026 season. 

However, as has been demonstrated in the past, if the Saints choose to pass on his fifth-year option, it doesn’t mean that his time in New Orleans is guaranteed to come to an end. It could simply be a means of managing expenses for future spending and rather than investing in a fully guaranteed deal two years away, the Saints could choose to engage in extension talks solely as their method of keeping Bresee in the Big Easy.