Saints linebackers ranked top-10 by Pro Football Focus

A proud and formidable unit between 2018 and 2022, the defense of the New Orleans Saints plummeted to a lowly 30th overall ranking in 2024. The Saints were 27th against the pass, near the bottom of the NFL in sacks, and an embarrassing 31st against the run. New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and an entirely new staff is now on board with an expected new philosophy and scheme, but the players on the field must also produce far better.

Pro Football Focus didn't think highly of the New Orleans defensive front, ranking them last among all teams in their position rankings. However, PFF feels far different about the Saints linebackers. PFF analyst Dalton Wasserman ranked the NFL's 32 linebacker units earlier this week, and the Saints came in at No. 8. Here's why Wasserman is so high on them:

Demario Davis got off to a slow start last season but continued to prove himself as an excellent player with a top-20 PFF overall grade. Flanking him once again will be Pete Werner, who bounced back to earn a 69.0 PFF overall grade last season, his highest since 2021.

The Saints don’t have a ton of experience behind those two, but D'Marco Jackson and Nephi Sewell have been key special teamers for them. Fourth-round rookie Danny Stutsman is an excellent run defender who earned an elite 90.9 PFF run-defense grade in his final season at Oklahoma.

Another name to watch is Jaylan Ford, a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft. Ford was slowed by injuries in preseason and played only on special teams in eight games last year. However, he was a playmaker at Texas and the Saints thought highly enough of him to keep him on their active roster all year. Davis, 36, is the oldest player on the New Orleans roster and enters his 14th NFL season. It's also clear that he has plenty of quality football left, should thrive in Staley's 3-4 system, and remains the key to the success of this defensive unit.

Among other NFC teams, Wasserman only had the linebacker units of the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders, and San Francisco 49ers ranked ahead of the Saints. The Atlanta Falcons were the next NFC South team on the rankings at No. 17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers came in at No. 25, while the Carolina Panthers were rated 30th by PFF. At least in this area, the Saints have an advantage over their rivals in the division.