A drop off from a Saints legend could send the defense reeling

Demario Davis, who will be 36 at the start of next season, is one of the best players on the New Orleans Saints defense, but he is also one of its oldest. And although he has yet to show any signs of slowing down, that could happen any day now and is the worst-case scenario for the linebacking corps.

Davis signed with the Saints back in 2018, after spending some time with the Jets and Browns. And since then, he has proven to be one of the best linebackers the NFL has seen. Since his arrival, he has been one of the few reasons for hope in the Saints defense, so a falloff from him could have a huge impact on the defense.

Other linebackers on the team include Pete Werner, Danny Stutsman, Nephi Sewell, Jaylan Ford, D'Marco Jackson, Isaiah Stalbird, and Pete Werner. All should be able to contribute, but Davis is still far and away the best linebacker in the room. This is all the more reason that the defense could go by the wayside if he can't keep up the pace he's been going at.

Why the impact would be so significant

Davis is a critical piece of the Saints defense, and the voice of the unit. You can make arguments on who is the most important piece on the team due to positional value, but Davis has been the best player on the defense for a few years. He's been named to the Pro Bowl twice and to the All-Pro team five times.

Accolades aside, Davis is a key component in the Saints run defense and pressuring the quarterback. The Saints are already struggling in these departments. Davis was primarily a downhill threat last year. He still has lateral ability, but he is in his mid-thirties. The physicality in the trenches is still evident, however.

It'll be interesting to see how Brandon Staley uses Davis. The linebacker set career-highs in sacks with 6.5 in 2023 and 202, but wasn't able to reach those heights last year. Pro Football Reference recorded 38 blitzes for Davis last year, compared to 39 the year before.

The usage rate was similar, but the results were drastically different. Different system also means different pressure packages. That's the hope for Davis, but the opposite is equally as likely.

2025 will be a big year in determining where Davis is at in his career. It doesn't feel the Saints have the team around him for Davis to fall off right now.