Three free agent defensive tackles the Saints should target

By Ross Jackson

With the New Orleans Saints closing in on their next defensive coordinator, each candidate interviewed so far has had some level of experience with a 3-4 defensive scheme or a heavy rotation of odd fronts. The Saints, under former coach Dennis Allen, often used a multiple front attack, deploying three-man lines often on third downs. 

While the team has the foundation and personnel to run those odd fronts in specific situations, building a more consistently 3-4 front will require some necessary adjustments and additions on the defensive line. This year’s free agency class offers a lot of opportunities to do exactly that.

Here are three free agent defensive tackles the Saints should conside.

Philadelphia Eagles DT Milton Williams

Size: 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds

2024 Stats: Five sacks, seven tackles for a loss, 10 quarterback hits, and one fumble recovery

While Williams is not a quintessential nose tackle or 1-tech defensive lineman, he is simply too talented not to check in on. He has made it known that he would like to stay with the Philadelphia Eagles and would cost a pretty penny to sign. However, he is the type of talent that every team should be taking a long, hard look at if he becomes available.

The Super Bowl hero finished the big game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a pair of sacks, two tackles for a loss, an additional hit on the quarterback, a fumble forced, and a fumble recovery. To show up in the biggest moment possible for a player is something that teams will value highly.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) has Williams projected to receive a contract of $21 million per year. Such a deal could price the Saints out of his market, depending on how the team decides to approach spending and acquisitions during the 2025 offseason, an approach that will be largely impacted by the team’s decisions at quarterback.

An addition like Williams brings a ton of value to the defensive line, regarding rushing the passer and making plays in the run game. His all-around impact is one that the Saints would benefit from greatly.

Los Angles Chargers DT Teair Tart

Size: 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds

2024 Stats: One sack, five tackles for a loss, five quarterback hits one fumble forced, and one fumble recovered

While Williams is more of a penetrating three-technique pass rusher, Tart is more of a nose tackle and run stopper — exactly the type necessary for a 3-4 front. Tart is a numbers changing pass rusher that can take up the attention of multiple blockers, forcing one-on-ones for the edge rushers on the outside. While he may not pile up the sack numbers throughout his time, his mass and violent style of play puts a number of sacks on other guys’ stat sheets.

PFF has his contract projection at a very manageable $2.5 million per year, which could be a one-year deal.

His 7.1% run stop percentage in 2024 would have led the Saints’ defensive tackles with more than 150 run defense stops and would have ranked No. 2 among all Saints defensive lineman meeting the same criteria. He would have only finished behind defensive end Carl Granderson’s 9.9% run stop rate.

Tennessee Titans DT Sebastian Joseph-Day

Size: 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds

2024 Stats: 2.5 sacks, three tackles for a loss, and six quarterback hits

Joseph-Day was coached by defensive coordinator candidate Brandon Staley while Staley was the coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams defense in 2020. Once he hit the open market following a three-sack 2021 season, he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, again reuniting with Staley. Should the former Chargers head coach earn the Saints’ defensive coordinator role, Joseph-Day is a name to know.

The versatile defensive lineman has taken snaps at numerous techniques throughout his career and could be a valuable, versatile addition. Not only has he shown flashes as a pass rusher, but he was a very reliable run defender in 2024, in particular.

Per Pro Football Focus, of all NFL defensive tackles with at least 200 run defense snaps, Joseph-Day’s 10.4% run-stop rate ranked No. 6. He would have led that metric for any Saints defensive lineman with at least 10 run-stop snaps in either 2023 or 2024. The only qualifying Saints defensive linemen to outperform that run stop rate in the last two years was Baton Rouge-native Malcolm Roach, who signed with the Denver Broncos ahead of the 2024 season.

Spotrac has Joseph-Day’s market value at just $4.5 million per year.