The New Orleans Saints season ended in disappointment, as the team dropped their final game 27-19. However, the team’s first half showed some promise for young talent. This week’s best Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades for the Saints are all aged 25 or younger.
Here are the PFF grades from Sunday’s season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Top 5
LB Anfernee Orji – 85.7
Orji saw more action than usual, playing the most snaps he has since Week 7 against the Denver Broncos. With linebackers Pete Werner and Willie Gay Jr. out, Orji found the field for 20 snaps. During which, he totaled three run stops and no missed tackles, while not allowing a catch on his lone target in coverage.
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – 78.8
McKinstry was a bright spot for the Saints’ season finale and one they needed. Having young talent show promise at the end of a season is imperative, especially for a team looking for a new head coach. The rookie cornerback allowed two receptions for 24 receiving yards, forcing a 40% catch rate 55.7 passer rating when targeted.
LB Nephi Sewell – 78.1
Sewell was another linebacker that saw a lot of action with injuries at his position group. He graded well across the board, bringing home a sack and a pair of tackles for a loss. Sewell has been one of the better stories the team has featured this year. He went from a late-2023 ACL injury to eventually starting in Week 18.
RG Cesar Ruiz – 76.8
With only one pressure surrendered against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Ruzi was the highest-graded player on the Saints’ offense. He also graded highly as a run blocker throughout the matchup.
DE Chase Young – 74.4
Young turned in yet another multi-pressure game on Sunday. With four pressures, a defensive stop and no missed tackles, Young finished the season strong as one of the NFL’s top pressure players. Whether or not Young returns on a new deal with New Orleans remains to be seen, but with the season he turned in, the Saints should be interested.
Bottom 5
WR Kevin Austin Jr. – 49.1
DT Bryan Bresee – 48.3
S Ugo Amadi – 48.1
S Jordan Howden – 44.4
DT Nathan Shepherd – 33.4
The lower grades came down to players that were either penalized or those that surrendered touchdown scores. Howden, for instance, had an interception, but later surrendered a score at the front of the end zone on a Bucs scramble drill. Amadi, similarly put together a strong game, but was penalized and dinged in coverage pretty significantly. Interestingly, four of the five highest graded players were on the defensive side of the ball, while four of five of the team’s defensive players were among the lowest graded.
