Saints retain strong safety room heading into 2026

By Ross Jackson

After re-signing safety Julian Blackmon on Tuesday, the New Orleans Saints are now set to attack 2026 with a similarly strong safety room than that which the team fielded in 2025.

With Blackmon back, the team has the ability to retain the top four players in the safety group from last year.

Veteran Justin Reid is going into the second season of his three-year deal, 2025 third-round pick Jonas Sanker is moving into his sophomore season and Jordan Howden, who provided quality depth throughout the year, is going into the final year of his rookie deal.

That quartet will likely sit atop the position group barring a surprise addition such as expected first-round safety Caleb Downs out of Ohio State. The Saints could find themselves in a best player available situation that could still lead them to adding another top-tier player to the room.

The re-signing of Blackmon shouldn’t be seen as a move that would deter the team from building on a strength, but it does help the position to avoid falling into the “need” category for depth or otherwise this offseason.

New Orleans received reliable and impactful play from its safety tandems and trios in 2025. Those included contributions from fellow safeties Ugo Amadi and Terrell Burgess as well. The Saints finished No. 4 in the NFL in passing yards allowed and tied for the No. 10 spot in fewest 20-plus yard passes allowed (44). The secondary simultaneously kept opposing quarterbacks to a 6.8 yards per passing attempt clip, which was below the 7.0-yard NFL average.

Now, the Saints can welcome the majority of their safety group back in 2026, benefiting from a second season in defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s system.

With another offseason to prepare, camaraderie building across the roster and familiar faces already starting to return, hope should be sky-high for the Saints’ defense, which is looking to build off of an impressive 2025 campaign.