Bryan Bresee Impressive in Saints' Second Preseason Outing

Rookie DT Bryan Bresee is developing rapidly for the Saints, which might be bad news for the rest of the NFL.

New Orleans Saints rookie DT Bryan Bresee had his best outing of training camp and two preseason games against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Bresee wasn't credited with a tackle, but recovered a second quarter fumble and was responsible for a few key pressures. 

NFL.com analyst Chad Reuter graded one rookie from each game played this past weekend. He evaluated Bresee for Saints-Chargers, handing out this grade.

Bryan Bresee

Clemson · DT

New Orleans Saints (2-0)

Grade = B

New Orleans picked Bresee 29th overall in April as part of their interior defensive line rebuild. The rookie struggled to get off blocks but held his ground in the run game early in the team's 22-17 win over the Chargers. Bresee's game picked up against reserve linemen. He penetrated with slants and won with strong hands on initial contact. His athleticism was on display when dropping into a short zone on a blitz on the first play of the second quarter. Bresee recovered Chargers quarterback Easton Stick’s fumble a couple of plays later, stunting across the line to get outside the left tackle and jump on the ball. Late in the second quarter, his penetration forced Stick out of the pocket, where he was intercepted. Bresee knocked down a Stick pass at the line on the next series as he pushed his man into the pocket and kept his eyes on the quarterback.

Los Angeles Chargers guard Austen Pleasants (75) attempts to block New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (90). Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Of the 15 rookies that Reuter singled out of this weekend, Bresee was one of just two interior defenders. Cowboys DT Mazi Smith, taken 26th overall, earned a 'D' grade from Reuter. 

Bresee was the fourth defensive tackle chosen in this spring's first round. He's the third defensive lineman to be drafted by the Saints in the first round in the last five years, but the first defensive tackle to be chosen in the opening round since Sheldon Rankins in 2016.

A terrific athlete with excellent strength at 6'5" and 305-Lbs., Bresee had nine sacks, 15 tackles for loss, and an interception in 25 games over three years at Clemson. His sophomore campaign of 2021 was limited to just four games because of an ACL injury. In 2022, he had to deal with offseason shoulder surgery plus the tragic death of his sister.

Bresee is part of a revamped New Orleans defensive tackle position that includes free-agent additions Nate Shepherd and Khalen Saunders. Early results are encouraging on all three defenders. The Saints wrap up their preseason schedule at home against the Houston Texans on Sunday. They'll host the Tennessee Titans on September 10 in their regular season opener.