ESPN names a surprising Saints player who could make their first Pro Bowl this season

After 14 weeks of the 2024 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints are 4-8. Obviously, this isn’t how the Saints saw their season going, but injuries had other plans. Still, New Orleans has had some really good play throughout the year, and the team will likely be represented in the Pro Bowl.

The most obvious Pro Bowl player on the roster is Alvin Kamara. The veteran running back has reminded everyone how elite he is, and he’s currently on pace to have the most productive season of his accomplished career. The question now becomes if he’ll be joined by a teammate or not.

In ESPN’s recent power rankings, each team reporter named a player from their team who could make the first Pro Bowl of their career. Katherine Terrell, who covers the 24th-ranked Saints, made the case for linebacker Anfernee Orji making his first Pro Bowl.

ESPN names Anfernee Orji as a first-time Pro Bowl nominee

This is a nomination that would even surprise Saints fans, because Orji has only played 16% of defensive snaps. However, Terrell is speaking to the young linebacker’s special teams prowess that could get him into the Pro Bowl. Playing 81% of New Orleans’ special teams snaps this season, Orji has made a name for himself as one of the best specialists in the league.

As Terrell pointed out, legendary coach Bill Belichick recognized Orji as one of the best special teams players in the league on Belichick’s all-midseason team. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi, who was previously the team’s special teams coordinator, has also praised Orji for his work on special teams.

If the young linebacker can make the Pro Bowl for what he’s done on special teams this year, it would be a great story. Orji went undrafted in 2023, and signed with the Saints, but spent his first season on the practice squad. In his second year, he has already carved out a role for himself in the league, and he also has a future at linebacker.

READ MORE