Tag: David Onyemata

Saints shut out of ESPN’s top defensive tackle rankings

Bryan Bresee had a strong rookie year with the New Orleans Saints, but it wasn’t enough to make ESPN’s list of the best defensive tackles:

ESPN’s series polling dozens of anonymous NFL sources to rank the best players at every position continued this week with the defensive tackles, but there  wasn’t a single New Orleans Saints player on the list — not inside the top-10, nor even as an honorable mention.

The Saints overhauled their defensive tackles last year by signing Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders while drafting Bryan Bresee, letting David Onyemata walk away in free agency in the process. But the group didn’t work out as well as hoped, with the Saints allowing the 11th-most rushing yards around the league.

Still, getting snubbed on this list is disappointing given Bresee’s strong rookie year. He made a big impact on passing downs by setting a new team record for sacks among first-year defensive tackles (4.5), and he almost broke the team record for passes batted down at the line of scrimmage (6), too. He also had a couple of sacks nullified by penalties. His 31 quarterback pressures were fourth-most on the team per Pro Football Focus charting.

So how can he improve in 2024 and make this list next year? Bresee must become a more impactful run defender. He was shoved around too easily in that phase last season and the coaching staff made an effort to limit his exposure when opponents were planning to run at him. Of the 15 Saints defenders who logged 400 or more total snaps, only Tanoh Kpassagnon played fewer run defense snaps (139) than Bresee (148). Improving his lower body strength to better anchor against advancing blockers will do a lot to help him stay on the field more often and make more plays.

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Two Falcons make PFF’s list of top 32 interior defenders

Pro Football Focus featured two #Falcons players on its list of the NFL’s top 32 interior defenders

Things change quickly in the NFL, especially for teams that underachieve. The Atlanta Falcons finished under .500 for a sixth consecutive season in 2023, and major changes followed shortly after.

The team hired head coach Raheem Morris, signed quarterback Kirk Cousins and traded away Desmond Ridder. While the Falcons didn’t make many changes on defense, they added multiple interior defensive linemen.

Not only did Atlanta draft Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus and Zion Logue, but veteran Eddie Goldman came out of retirement to sign with the team. However, let’s not forget about Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata.

Jarrett’s been a force in Atlanta for the past decade but rarely gets the respect he deserves. Onyemata signed with the team in 2023 and played extremely well last season.

Both Jarrett and Onyemata were ranked among the NFL’s top 32 interior defensive linemen in a new feature by Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus. Onyemata came in at No. 18 on PFF’s list:

Onyemata is now on a sequence of seven straight seasons with at least 30 pressures, and he has added 54 defensive stops over the past two seasons while playing for two NFC South teams. Onyemata is a disruptive presence on the defensive interior and has developed into an excellent player. — Sam Monson, PFF

Onyemata followed former Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen from New Orleans to Atlanta last season. Nielsen took the Jaguars defensive coordinator job over the offseason, but Onyemata returns and should play an important role again in 2024.

As for Jarrett, he was a little further down PFF’s list, coming in at No. 28:

At his best, Grady Jarrett was a top-five player on this list, but as he plays into his 30s, we haven’t seen his very best for a few years now. 2023 was an injury-curtailed season, but even the year before he earned only above-average PFF grades and production as opposed to the elite marks he had been hitting just a couple of years prior.Jarrett has enough credit in the bank to make the list still, but this is a big season for him to bounce back and prove that he isn’t firmly in decline late in his career. — Sam Monson, PFF

The Falcons have not re-signed veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell and a return doesn’t seem likely considering the team’s offseason additions. However, any team would benefit from a versatile defender like Campbell, so don’t rule it out just yet.

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Saints guaranteed every dollar of Chase Young’s $13 million contract

The New Orleans Saints guaranteed every dollar of Chase Young’s $13 million contract. But his real salary cap hit might be much lower:

Whew. This is a big deal. The New Orleans Saints guaranteed every dollar of their $13 million contract with free agent defensive end Chase Young, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and confirmed by CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson.

But as is always the case with this team, don’t expect that to mean a simple $13 million salary cap charge on their accounting books. Depending on how this deal is structured, Young’s cap hit for 2024 could be as low as $3.5 million. Here’s how the accounting would look with four “ghost years” set to void at the end of the 2024 league year:

  • 2024 salary: $1,125,000; signing bonus proration: $2,375,000
  • 2025 signing bonus proration: $2,375,000
  • 2026 signing bonus proration: $2,375,000
  • 2027 signing bonus proration: $2,375,000
  • 2028 signing bonus proration: $2,375,000

The risk in doing this is that the Saints would be left with a dead money cap charge of $9.5 million next offseason should Young not re-sign on a new deal.

But the Saints have shown us before they’re comfortable paying that if need be. Andrus Peat is counting against the cap by more than $13.6 million and Marcus Maye has a dead money hit of $8.1 million for 2024 — and they both visited the Tennessee Titans on Monday as free agents who the Saints chose to let go. They paid comparable dead money hits in 2023 for David Onyemata ($10.1 million) and Marcus Davenport ($7.6 million).

If this is the route the Saints go, choosing to create short-term flexibility while jeopardizing future cap resources, it’s only a problem if Young fails to perform as expected in 2024. If he turns out to be a free agent bust and both sides move on, well: the Saints will have bigger problems to worry about  than where 3.4% of their salary cap is going. It’ll mean the pass rush failed to show up, again, and that the team lost a lot of games. And that Dennis Allen probably isn’t their head coach anymore. So when you take a big-picture view, this isn’t as big a gamble for the Saints at it might look at first glance.

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NFL awards the Saints three compensatory picks in the 2024 NFL draft

The projections got it right this year. The NFL awarded the Saints three compensatory picks in the 2024 NFL draft:

The projections got it right this year. The NFL awarded the New Orleans Saints three compensatory picks in the 2024 NFL draft, all slotted into the fifth round:

  • Round 5, Pick 167
  • Round 5, Pick 169
  • Round 5, Pick 174

These extra draft selections were awarded as compensation for players the Saints lost in free agency last offseason — defensive tackle David Onyemata, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and linebacker Kaden Elliss. There was a possibility the Saints could have had that draft choice for Onyemata slotted into the end of the fourth round instead of the beginning of the fifth frame’s comp picks, given some uncertainty in different models, but it was always likelier to fall in this place.

So what will the Saints do with these extra picks? Their history suggests these draft resources will be spent trading up to target players in the earlier rounds. New Orleans has been given six comp picks over the last three draft classes and general manager Mickey Loomis has traded all of them in moves up the board, which you can read more about here.

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Over The Cap finalizes comp pick projections, with good news for Saints

Over The Cap finalized their compensatory draft pick projections for 2024, with good news for the New Orleans Saints:

The analysts at Over The Cap finalized their compensatory pick projections for the 2024 NFL draft, with good news for the New Orleans Saints: right now, the Saints are predicted to receive three comp picks in this year’s event. But where will they fall?

OTC’s Nick Korte writes that one of them is basically a coin flip, with the Saints expected to receive a fourth- or fifth-round selection for losing David Onyemata to the Atlanta Falcons last season. Between the contracts and valuation of different qualifying players around the league, that pick should fall either at the end of the fourth round (around No. 134) or at the beginning of the fifth round’s comp picks (roughly No. 166). That’s a big swing, and the earlier that pick slots in, the better for New Orleans.

But that isn’t the only comp pick the Saints are expected to receive. OTC has them netting a pair of fifth-round picks as compensation for losing linebacker Kaden Elliss (to the Falcons) and defensive end Marcus Davenport (to the Minnesota Vikings) last offseason.

Assuming the Saints will get three comp picks in the fifth round (as is OTC’s official projection), here is where New Orleans expects to be picking:

  • Round 1, Pick 14
  • Round 2, Pick 45 (via Denver Broncos)
  • Round 5, Pick 148
  • Round 5, Pick 167 (compensatory)
  • Round 5, Pick 168 (compensatory)
  • Round 5, Pick 172 (compensatory)
  • Round 6, Pick 191
  • Round 6, Pick 200 (via Philadelphia Eagles)
  • Round 7, Pick 229 (via Denver Broncos)

We won’t find out for sure until comp picks are announced later this year, typically the week before free agency starts in March. Keep an eye out for confirmation and the official draft order.

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Falcons OL Kaleb McGary, DL David Onyemata out Wednesday

Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary and defensive lineman David Onyemata are OUT Wednesday

The Atlanta Falcons will be without two key linemen when they resume practice on Wednesday afternoon. According to head coach Arthur Smith, right tackle Kaleb McGary (knee) and defensive tackle David Onyemata (ankle) are out again after missing Sunday’s game.

On the bright side, center Drew Dalman, linebacker Bud Dupree and guard Chris Lindstrom are expected to practice this week, per team reporter Tori McElhaney.

Make sure to check back this afternoon for the team’s first official injury report of Week 16. The Falcons take on the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

In other news, Taylor Heinicke will replace Desmond Ridder as the team’s starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, Smith confirmed on Wednesday (as you can see below, per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein).

Check out the team’s updated depth chart and 53-man roster heading into Week 16.

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Falcons list inactives for Week 15 game vs. Panthers

The Falcons have released their inactives list for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers

The Atlanta Falcons have released their inactives list for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers and seven players have been ruled out. Offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom and linebacker Bud Dupree are among those out for Week 15.

Kicker Younghoe Koo is active after being added to the injury report due to an illness on Saturday. Defensive lineman David Onyemata and right tackle Kaleb McGary were previously ruled out. Check out the team’s full inactives list for Week 15 below.

Falcons rule out David Onyemata, activate LaCale London from IR

The Falcons have ruled out defensive lineman David Onyemata for Sunday’s game and activated DL LaCale London from IR

The Atlanta Falcons will look to get their season back on track this weekend against the Carolina Panthers, but they won’t have some key players. The team ruled out defensive lineman David Onyemata on Saturday and listed kicker Younghoe Koo as questionable due to an illness.

The Falcons also activated defensive lineman LaCale London while placing Kentavius Street on injured reserve. London will likely play meaningful reps on Sunday with Onyemata out.

Atlanta was already shorthanded going into Week 15 with multiple offensive linemen listed as questionable and Kaleb McGary ruled out, but the team added kicker Younghoe Koo to the injury report on Saturday as well.

Koo is officially questionable for Sunday’s game due to an illness, the team announced. Check out the team’s updated 53-man roster, depth chart and our latest mock draft heading into Week 15.

Falcons fans react to ESPN report

Falcons new 7-round mock draft

Falcons Week 15 depth chart

Updated NFL draft order

4 questions the Falcons must answer

Saints vs. Falcons: 5 biggest storylines going into Week 12 game

The NFC South lead is on the line in Saints versus Falcons. Divisional implications are just 1 of the 5 biggest storylines in Week 12.

The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons face off for the first time this season. This is one of the most underrated rivalries in the NFL. This matchup is littered with storylines to watch, per usual.

This rivalry is anticipated and heated when there’s nothing at stake. This year, the stakes are high. This Week 12 game features the first and second place team in the NFC South. While the division might not be highly regarded, winning the division is still important to the playoff picture.

Here are the five most important storylines headed into Saints versus Falcons:

Updated Saints 2024 draft pick projections after Broncos’ 4-game winning streak

The Broncos have won four games in a row, dramatically shifting the Saints’ projected picks in the 2024 NFL draft:

This isn’t great. The Denver Broncos have won four games in a row, improving their record to 5-5 in Sean Payton’s first year on the job — powered by five Wil Lutz field goals in a Sunday night win against the Minnesota Vikings.

All of their success has a ripple effect on the New Orleans Saints, who are receiving Denver’s second- and seventh-round 2024 draft picks after trading Payton and Lutz to them earlier this year. Where are the Saints projected to be picking now that the Broncos have turned things around?

Here’s the Saints’ updated draft order from Tankathon, based off the latest standings after Week 11:

  • Round 1, pick 19
  • Round 2, pick 47 (via Denver Broncos)
  • Round 4, pick 136 (compensatory)
  • Round 5, pick 155
  • Round 5, pick 171 (compensatory)
  • Round 5, pick 174 (compensatory)
  • Round 6, pick 196
  • Round 6, pick 209 (via Philadelphia Eagles)
  • Round 7, pick 235 (via Denver Broncos)

Remember, those compensatory draft picks for 2023 free agents David Onyemata, Marcus Davenport, and Kaden Elliss will not be awarded until March, and it’s possible the expert predictions miss the mark. We’ll have to wait and see.

For now, it’s looking like there will be a sizeable gap between the Saints’ second-round choice (coming from Denver) and their next pick, whether it’s a compensatory fourth rounder or their own pick in the fifth round. Trading so many early-round picks away like Mickey Loomis has done will do that. Philadelphia controls the Saints’ second-round selection, while Denver has New Orleans’ third-round choice, and the Saints’ fourth-round pick is going to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hopefully those compensatory picks transfer as expected.

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