4 defensive ends who could replace Trey Hendrickson for the Saints

Justin Houston

A former superstar, Justin Houston played last season with the Indianapolis Colts.

In 2014, Houston went absolutely off, totaling a league-high 22 sacks. While that production is no longer within him as he’s reached his 30s, Houston, like Watt, still has some fuel left in the tank, and he hopefully wouldn’t be too expensive to add.

This past season, Houston still played at a relatively high level, accumulating eight sacks. He also notched 12 quarterback hits and 8 tackles for a loss. Playing and starting in all 16 games, Houston should be on the Saints’ radar.

"“Houston still flashes his ability, as he can get offensive tackles off-balanced with his length and good technique, but the days of accumulating 50-plus pressures in a season appear to be in the past. Even in the run game, Houston took a step back in 2020. On the other hand, Houston is just one year removed from an 87.1 overall grade while playing just over 40 plays per game, and he may have something to offer in a rotational role,” Pro Football Focus wrote on Houston."

Again, Houston wouldn’t be able to get what he’s truly worth in the Big Easy, but he’d have a chance to wind down his career on a team that’s capable of taking him to the playoffs. With enough explosiveness left to make an impact, it would be a win-win situation if the Saints were able to bring in Houston.

With Davenport the most likely to take over if Hendrickson leaves, all four options should be acceptable for a Saints fanbase hungry for more success.