Sаіntѕ Tender Excluѕіve Rіgһtѕ Free Agent LB Nepһі Sewell Aһeаd of New Leаgue Yeаr

Nephi Sewell is back with the New Orleans Saints for another season, a source told Athlon Sports.

The team brought him back for 2025 under the exclusive rights free agent tag, as he was the lone player they had to make a decision on with that tender.

Sewell originally joined the Saints in 2022 as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Utah, spending his first season in New Orleans on the practice squad. He'd sign a reserve/future contract in January following the season and would go on to impress and training camp, making the final roster.

Sewell would appear in the first 16 games of the season, even having an extensive role in the Week 13 matchup against the Lions where he had 8 total tackles and and appeared in 42 defensive snaps for the Saints. Unfortunately, Sewell suffered a torn ACL in the regular season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For 2024, Sewell would start the season on the physically unable to perform list and was activated on Nov. 16. He'd play in the final seven games for New Orleans and would get the first sack of his career on Baker Mayfield, which was coincidentally against the Bucs in the season finale.

Primarily known as a special teams player, Sewell could see his work increase this season under Brandon Staley's defensive scheme.

His brothers also play football, with Noah being a linebacker for the Chicago Bears, Penei, an offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions, and Gabriel, who was a linebacker for the UFL's Houston Roughnecks in 2024.