Demario Davis, Pete Werner, and Willie Gay are a formidable trio, and the New Orleans Saints invested a lot to get better play out of their linebackers this offseason. In addition to signing Gay as competition for Werner, they brought in free agents like Khaleke Hudson plus rookies including Jaylan Ford (a fifth-round draft pick) and Isaiah Stalbird (whose contract ranked high in guarantees for undrafted players). That’s with backups returning from last year’s team such as D’Marco Jackson, Anfernee Orji, and Monty Rice. Nephi Sewell is the best of the bunch but he’s recovering from a late-season knee injury.
So where does ESPN rank the Saints’ linebacker corps among all 32 teams? ESPN’s Mike Clay broke down all position groups for every team in the NFL, and he believes the Saints are knocking on the door to field a top-five linebacker group in 2024:
Kenneth Murray, Jack Gibbens, Cedric Gray, Otis Reese, Garret Wallow
Denzel Perryman, Nick Niemann, Daiyan Henley, Junior Colson, Troy Dye
Devin White, Nakobe Dean, Oren Burks, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Ben VanSumeren
Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper, Eric Wilson
Kyzir White, Krys Barnes, Mack Wilson, Owen Pappoe, Markus Bailey
Zaire Franklin, E.J. Speed, Segun Olubi, Grant Stuard, Jaylon Carlies
Alex Singleton, Cody Barton, Jonas Griffith, Justin Strnad, Durell Nchami
Eric Kendricks, Damone Clark, Markquese Bell, DeMarvion Overshown, Marist Liufau
Ivan Pace Jr., Blake Cashman, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Brian Asamoah, Abraham Beauplan
Lavonte David, K.J. Britt, SirVocea Dennis, J.J. Russell, Vi Jones
Ernest Jones, Christian Rozeboom, Troy Reeder, Jake Hummel, Olakunle Fatukasi
Azeez Al-Shaair, Christian Harris, Henry To’oTo’o, Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Neville Hewitt
Robert Spillane, Divine Deablo, Luke Masterson, Amari Burney, Tommy Eichenberg
Kaden Elliss, Troy Andersen, Nate Landman, JD Bertrand, Milo Eifler
Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, Isaiah Simmons, Matthew Adams, Darius Muasau
Jordyn Brooks, David Long Jr., Duke Riley, Anthony Walker, Channing Tindall
Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Roquan Smith, Malik Harrison, Trenton Simpson, Chris Board, Josh Ross
Jerome Baker, Tyrel Dodson, Tyrice Knight, Jon Rhattigan, Drake Thomas
Patrick Queen, Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, Payton Wilson, Mark Robinson
Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Sione Takitaki, Christian Elliss, Joe Giles-Harris
Nick Bolton, Drue Tranquill, Leo Chenal, Jack Cochrane, Cam Jones
Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Joe Bachie, Devin Harper
Shaq Thompson, Josey Jewell, Trevin Wallace, Chandler Wooten, Tae Davis
Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Nicholas Morrow, Deion Jones, Dorian Williams
Jordan Hicks, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Devin Bush, Tony Fields II, Nathaniel Watson
Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Willie Gay Jr., Khaleke Hudson, Jaylan Ford
T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds, Jack Sanborn, Noah Sewell, Micah Baskerville
C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Chazz Surratt, Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, Chad Muma, Ventrell Miller, Caleb Johnson
Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, De’Vondre Campbell, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Dee Winters
Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Jamin Davis, Mykal Walker, Jordan Magee