The New Orleans Saints could absolutely use another pass rusher in the middle of their defensive line. That’s why they signed Nick Fairley to a four-year contract worth $28-30 million last year before his heart issue was discovered.
But the Saints’ defensive tackle position is still in good shape because it’s led by several young players on the rise, like Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison and David Onyemata.
That’s why it ranks in the middle of the pack at No. 7 in my position-by-position breakdown of New Orleans’ offseason needs:
Current depth chart:
Sheldon Rankins. Age 23, signed through 2019 (Saints can exercise fifth-year tender on him through 2020). 2018 salary and bonuses: $1.61 million. 2018 salary-cap number: $3.49 million.
Tyeler Davison. Age 25, signed through 2018. 2018 salary and bonuses: $1.905 million. 2018 salary-cap number: $1.959 million.
David Onyemata. Age 25, signed through 2019. 2018 salary and bonuses: $630,000. 2018 salary-cap number: $765,586.
Mitchell Loewen. Age 25, scheduled to become restricted free agent in 2019. 2018 salary and bonuses: $555,000. 2018 salary-cap number: $566,668.
John Hughes. Age 29, unrestricted free agent.
Woodrow Hamilton. Age 25, scheduled to become exclusive rights free agent in 2019. 2018 salary and bonuses: $555,000.
David Parry. Age 25, restricted free agent.
Devaroe Lawrence. Age 25, scheduled to become exclusive rights free agent in 2019. 2018 salary and bonuses: $480,000.
Analysis:
I still feel like Rankins has breakout potential after being drafted with the 12th overall pick in 2016. But even if he doesn’t become a big-time sack producer like he was at Louisville, where he had 14 over his final two seasons, he has already proved his worth as a versatile leader for New Orleans’ defensive line.
Rankins had three sacks last season, including one in the playoffs, and ranked second on the team with 11 quarterback hits while shifting from tackle to end when needed after DE Alex Okafor suffered a season-ending Achilles tear. And teammates praised the 6-foot-2, 305-pounder all year long for being a cerebral leader who gets everyone lined up and makes adjustments before the snap.
Rankins joked that they called him the “Chris Paul” of the defense for taking on double teams and setting up other guys -- including DE Cameron Jordan, who was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time.
Another second-year pro, Oyemata, also took on a bigger role in the wake of the Fairley and Okafor injuries, starting the final six games of the regular season after Rankins slid over to DE. The Nigerian native, who just learned football when he went to college in Canada seven years ago, is becoming more and more polished as both a run defender and pass rusher. Onyemata (6-4, 300) had two sacks and five quarterback hits in the regular season, then four more QB hits in two playoff games.
Davison has been a solid nose tackle, starting 33 games over the past two years, including the playoffs. Although the 6-2, 309-pounder primarily plays on run downs, he and Onyemata combined on a huge sack against Cam Newton in the fourth quarter of New Orleans’ playoff victory over the Carolina Panthers. Davison also came up big during a goal-line stand in a Week 16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Davison is in the final year of his contract, though -- another reason why it wouldn’t hurt the Saints to invest in one more key addition to the DT rotation either in free agency or the draft.
Loewen is also an intriguing young prospect who made the 53-man roster with a terrific preseason performance last year before suffering an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve in September.
Previous rankings: