John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
By Ross Jackson
METAIRIE, La. – The second selection of the New Orleans Saints’ 2026 draft class is set to help bulk up the interior of the defensive line.
Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller is a versatile and violent wrecking ball on the inside. As he arrives in New Orleans, he appears to be a clear fit at nose tackle, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see his role grow over time.
“I just like being a Swiss Army knife,” Miller said. “I feel like anything my coach tells me to do, I can do it. From being dominant, from being dominant in the inside, at nose, from being dominant at the 3-tech position dominant, the 4i dominant, the (5-tech). I can just do everything.”
Per Pro Football Focus, Miller took 113 snaps in the A-gap, 298 B-gap and 23 over the offensive tackle. So while the Georgia lineman’s role may be focused at 0- or 1-tech (A-gap) to start, things can certainly evolve over time as he gets more comfortable at the position.
“I think that versatility is going to provide you with some fun chess piece games,” head coach Kellen Moore said during his Day 2 media availability. “He’s certainly played plenty of nose. He’ll play the shade. He’ll work his way out all the way out to 5-technique and some 3-4 structures, and so he’s gonna provide some really good versatility.”
The Saints traded to acquire nose tackle Davon Godchaux last season and have already re-signed John Ridgeway III for the 2026 year. There will be competition for early-down snaps for the year between the two established veterans, Miller and 2024 draft pick Khristian Boyd.
What may help Miller stand out will be how he develops as a pass rusher. His 11.3% pass rush win rate in 2025 shows there’s some foundation there to go along with this athleticism and attacking nature. Should he build value as a three-down defensive tackle, it could help to propel him to taking impactful snaps in the Saints’ defense quickly.
