Saints Rookie Safety Ready For Bigger Role vs. Packers

With starting safety Marcus Maye suspended for three games, Jordan Howden will likely get the start Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Here is what he brings to the team.

METAIRIE -- With the long-anticipated suspension for New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Maye now official, fifth-round rookie Jordan Howden is ready to step into a larger role. While there has not necessarily been an "official" announcement that the Minnesota alum will start, all signs are pointing to exactly that being the case this weekend against the Green Bay Packers. Including Howden's own words. 

Howden's lengthy list of contributions as a Golden Gopher show a promising ability to translate his skills to the next level. He has played heavily as a deep safety (or post player), split safety, special teamer and slot defender. His maturity, experience and versatility are all qualities the Saints put a lot of stock into. When a young player can showcase all of those elements of their game and who they are as a person, it is only a matter of time before the break through in the Big Easy.

While a first start may not qualify as a "breakthrough" just yet for the rookie defender, there is no shortage of confidence that his day is on the way. I spoke with both Howden and Saints defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson about the young player's abilities and beyond. The first pair of things that leapt from Robertson's mind regarding Howden were his intentional nature and detail orientation. 

Aug 27, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints safety Jordan Howden (31) reacts to making a tackle on Houston Texans wide receiver Adam Humphries (27) during the second half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

It was Howden's maturity and ability to execute off the field that proved something to Robertson. Ahead of their pre-draft workout in Minnesota, Robertson sent the safety a list of ten things that needed to be done before his arrival. That list consisted of different items such as: dinner reservations for Robertson, Howden and his teammate Terrell Smith who was also a part of the workout, arranging with the video department to secure game film and a space to review it, cones and other materials needed for the workout itself and even making sure to communicate to Smith what he needed as well. Howden did not miss a single detail for himself or his teammate.

"Lo and behold," Robertson said. "He might be the first guy I've ever given that list to that executed every single one of them to a tee. So, to me, that was impressive because I felt like I was talking to a guy who was intentional and understood details and things of that nature. (He) knew the importance of it." It goes further to Howden's credit that he made sure to set his teammate up for success as well. A good showing of his care for his colleague.

From an on-field perspective, Howden first caught the coach's eye at the 2023 NFL Combine. Robertson described his movement skills, position flexibility and experience (a multi-year starter with 58 games and 49 starts under his belt) as primary factors that intrigued him about Howden. The San Diego, Calif. native knows how valuable those qualities are in making an impact.

“My freshman year," Howden told me. "I didn’t know what I was getting into in college. So, I was just going out there… they would just put me in man coverage. So I was like, 'Alright, I can do that and y’all don’t have to worry about too much.' But once I started getting into my junior year, started getting with my coaches, even with the whole defense, I just started asking the questions, 'What do I need to be looking for in each personnel?' Things of that sort. That’s when I started getting good. And last year, my senior year, I could see things like: 'Okay, this tackle does this, I’m going to run for it because it’s going to be a run play.' That’s when I was able to start recognizing plays much faster than my first couple years in college.”

Aug 20, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers safety AJ Finley (24) and New Orleans Saints safety Jordan Howden (31) battle during a punt return during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

The connection between Howden and Robertson is also evident. "To be honest with you," Robertson said. "He reminds me a lot of myself  and I think I think this kid has a bright future. It's a lot, you know, coming in league being a rookie. I went through it so it's kind of one of those situations where I get the opportunity to mentor, teach or coach him. Given the fact that we, initially coming out, we kind of got very similar history."

Both Robertson and Howden are California natives. Howden from San Diego, Robertson from the Pasadena area. Both also had to manage a bit of culture shock playing college football. Howden went from sunny San Diego to Las Vegas, Nev. and eventually to the frigid air of Minneapolis, Minn. Robertson experienced a similar transition heading from the temperate west coast to Ames, Iowa.

Before entering the coaching ranks, Robertson played a high level in the NFL. An All-Pro level to be more specific. In 1993, he was voted a first-team All-Pro safety for the Houston Oilers in a season where he totaled 82 tackles, 7 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Robertson has also coached some of the biggest safety names in the NFL, with Charles Woodson as the headliner. Robertson was integral in Woodson's transition to safety and eventual second-team All-Pro season in 2015.

All that to say, he knows talent when he sees it. Feeling the excitement around Howden and the elements of his game that he brings, it is clear that the Saints are very comfortable turning to him. 

As for what Howden believes he can bring to the field as a safety in this system, he has some great examples to learn from. In fact, he has already stepped into the roles before. During training camp this summer when Maye was given a veteran rest day, Howden was in his place. Similarly, when Tyrann Mathieu was off, Howden stepped into his role.

I asked the young defender how gaining that experience will help him once called into action. “It’s just knowing different things from both of them, he said. "Everybody has their own knowledge and things that can help you on the field. So, Marcus Maye will tell me, 'Hey this is what you’re going to get, this is what you’re going to do.' Tyrann (Mathieu), he tells me, 'Okay, you’re going to do this.' So, just learning from both of them is really helping me overall. Just in case anyone does go down, I’ll be ready to step in, play fast and be able to make plays.”

Aug 20, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver John Hightower (84) makes a catch in front of New Orleans Saints safety Jordan Howden (31) during the third quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Howden's game has been often described as having the vision and versatility of former Saints defensive backs Marcus Williams and P.J. Williams respectively. It is often footnoted that he is a sound tackler as well. All of which are outstanding qualities for a young player. Robertson quantified the value of tackling as a safety with a play made by Maye in the first week of the season.

On the play, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry took a first-and-10 screen pass 46 yards down field on a huge catch and run. It was the Titans' biggest play of the game. However, Robertson's focus was on the result of the drive as a whole. Because Maye came up as the last line of defense and made what was most likely a touchdown-saving tackle, the big play is no more than that. A big play. After Maye made that stop, effectively taking 7 points off the board for the Titans, the Saints defense limited Tennessee to a field goal on the drive.

To Robertson, Maye's tackle was a 4-point swing in the Saints' favor. That is the value of sound tackling at the safety position, a quality that Howden displays.

Combine his on-field talent with the composure and maturity he shows off the field and it is clear why New Orleans trusts him to step into this role despite his draft position. There are greater elements that define a football player than where, or even whether, they were drafted. And if anyone knows how to spot those qualities, it is coach Robertson. "We're going to talk again," Robertson said to me as we wrapped up our conversation. "And I promise you, he's going to be a real good player.