Saints Training Camp Preview: Defensive End

Going into Saints training camp, the defensive end spot will have a good bit of eyes on it. The group's success here could carry them a long way.

The wait is almost over for Saints football to return. Rookies report to training camp on Tuesday, and by next Wednesday there will be practices for New Orleans. Saints News Network will be bringing you all of the camp previews over the next week and some change, so be sure to stay tuned and plugged in. For today, we'll take a look at the edge position and some of the biggest storylines to follow throughout training camp.

Saints Training Camp Outlook: Defensive End

Oct 20, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96) reacts after a sack during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Depth Chart: Cam Jordan, Carl Granderson, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Payton Turner, Isaiah Foskey, Jabari Zuniga, Niko Lalos

Going into training camp, it's pretty clear who would be on the final roster right now, but the depth chart positioning will be something that could see some shifts. Something else we're anxious to see is how Todd Grantham does replacing Ryan Nielsen as the team's new defensive line coach. So far, the praise has been there.

New Orleans has a talented group that could get the job done, but there's a few big things that will dictate success or failure. Here's a few of the main storylines to follow during camp.

Will New Orleans Add to the Group?

On the surface, this feels like a pretty good group with a little upside. However, it's one of the positions that could also see an addition via free agency that would make it extremely attractive. A premiere pass-rushing talent like Yannick Ngakoue is still out there, and some team is going to get a really good player within the next month. Others like Jadevon Clowney have been linked to New Orleans as a fit, which makes sense given the Joe Woods connection. However, it remains to be seen what the Saints will do, if anything, when it comes to adds before training camp.

Does Jordan Get His Extension?

Back in May, the Saints and Cam Jordan were talking about a contract extension that was going to be at least two years. From everything I've been told, that's still going to be getting done. Jordan became the franchise's all-time sack leader last season, and he's still playing at a strong level. The fact that New Orleans also sees it that way is encouraging. He'll be a big part of what the Saints do defensively, as we anticipate another rotation approach to 2023.

Nov 20, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Payton Turner (98) is carted off the field with an injury in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Will Payton Turner Stay Healthy and Put It Together?

There's a considerable amount of pressure on Payton Turner to deliver, as he has not really lived up to the first-round hype. It's been disappointing, to say the least, and he knows that. However, the Saints still believe he can be the type of player they drafted and saw the potential in. 

One of the things Jeff Ireland said back at the Senior Bowl was that Turner has to get over the injury bug, which is going to make a huge difference. So far, he's been a part of all the offseason program, which is a big step in the right direction. Turner doesn't need to be a 10-sack guy, just show up and make some impact for the edge group.

Foskey Looks to Make His Mark

The Saints used their second round pick at 40th overall to get Notre Dame's Isaiah Foskey, investing both of their first selections in the draft for the trenches. Foskey is an exciting talent addition to the group, and has been a real sponge through his first couple of months of action. He's leaned heavily on Cam Jordan, and you can get a feel for his football IQ and passion for the game. Once the pads come on, we're eager to see what Foskey can do.

Can the Group Be Better?

New Orleans finished with 48 sacks last season, which was good for 5th in the league. Overall, the Saints got 19.5 sacks from their group of ends, which accounted for nearly 41 percent of their season total. Comparatively, the Eagles were the top dogs in the NFL with 70, and they got 38 from their main group of Hasson Reddick (16), Josh Sweat (11), and Brandon Graham (11). 

The breakdown for the Saints started with Jordan (8.5), who was the highest on the team. Granderson (5.5) finished fourth behind Kaden Elliss (7) and Demario Davis (6.5). Tanoh Kpassagnon (2), Payton Turner (2), and Marcus Davenport (0.5) were the others who registered sacks. 

Overall, the Saints could go a long way with a dominant defensive line, and they should be the ones leading the charge going into the new season. Perhaps an injection of new talent at both spots will help fuel that, but the main thing is seeing the group finishing in a big way. When New Orleans needs a big play, they have to get it from the trenches. We'll be looking forward to some of this in training camp, which is almost right around the corner.