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Saints Post-2021 NFL Draft State of the Roster: Safeties

By Leigh Oleszczak

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 10: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #22 of the New Orleans Saints runs onto the field ahead of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Chicago Bears at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 10, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 10: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #22 of the New Orleans Saints runs onto the field ahead of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Chicago Bears at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 10, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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The New Orleans Saints seem to be well-set at the safety position heading into the 2021 season. Their cornerback position could certainly use some work, but safety appears good to go.

Here are all of the safeties (and defensive backs, since I didn’t include them on the cornerback article) listed on the Saints’ official roster:

  • Eric Burrell
  • C.J. Gardner-Johnson
  • J.T. Gray
  • Malcolm Jenkins
  • Deuce Wallace
  • Keith Washington Jr.
  • Marcus Williams
  • P.J. Williams

Looking at this group, Gardner-Johnson, Jenkins, and Marcus Williams are the obvious starters. Gardner-Johnson was the Saints’ fourth-round pick in 2019 and has outperformed his fourth-round selection. He’s been excellent in the Saints’ secondary and is coming off a season where he had 66 tackles, 13 defended passes, four quarterback hits, one sack, and one interception.

Jenkins has started all 16 games in each of the last seven years and his durability is the best thing about him. He had 91 tackles and three interceptions in his return season to New Orleans after spending the previous six years with the Eagles.

Williams is heading into a contract year and that’s definitely going to elevate his play even more so in 2021. The Saints landed him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Utah and Williams has been tremendous. It might be difficult for the Saints to keep him in New Orleans after this year due to them needing to extend other players as well.

The Saints have a good thing going at the safety position.

As for the depth on their roster, Gray is entering his fourth year with the Saints and has appeared in all 16 games in each of the last two seasons. P.J. Williams is heading into year six and has been a consistent backup for the team. These two guys and Washington would be my picks to land as the reserves this season.

With how pass-happy the NFL has become, it’s important to have a steady secondary capable of slowing offenses down. The Saints had a good pass defense a season ago, finishing the 2020 season with the fifth-fewest passing yards allowed, trailing just the Rams, Football Team, Steelers, and 49ers. Not bad company at all.

The Saints will need to look into addressing the safety position after this season, however, as Marcus Williams is going to be hard to retain and Jenkins’ play has declined. He’s also turning 34 in December.

Next. Lack of Depth at Wide Receiver May Be Costly. dark

As of now though, the New Orleans Saints’ safety position is one of the best on their roster.