Granderson’s continued improvement is key to Brandon Staley’s Saints defense
We now stand 96 days away from the 2025 regular season opener for the New Orleans Saints. Sporting jersey number 96 for the Saints in a seventh straight year will be defensive end Carl Granderson. One of the few bright spots on the New Orleans defense last season, let’s have a closer look at Granderson, our Saints Player of the Day, and his career to this point.
- Name (Age): Carl Granderson (28)
- Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
- Position: Defensive end
- Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 261 pounds
- Relative Athletic Score: 7.68
- College: Wyoming Cowboys
- Drafted: Undrafted, 2019 (New Orleans Saints)
- NFL experience: 6 seasons
- 2025 salary cap hit: $6,482,000
By 2023, Granderson was a regular starter for New Orleans, averaging around 75% of the defensive snaps over the last two years. Over that time, he has 14 sacks, 60 pressures, 33 QB hits, and 23 tackles for negative yardage. He led the Saints in all four categories in 2023 while leading the team in negative tackles last season.
There is some question where Granderson’s fit will be in a new defensive scheme under coordinator Brandon Staley expected to run more 3-4 concepts. His length and speed around the edge could make him an excellent stand-up rusher, but his size will also allow him to play as a down lineman. Arguably the Saints most disruptive defender over the last two seasons, expect Carl Granderson to again be a vital part of New Orleans defensive packages again under Brandon Staley in 2025.
