March 8, 2026, 7:24 p.m. CT
Safety is a position that underwent a massive changeover for the New Orleans Saints in 2025. Gone were starters Tyrann Mathieu and Will Harris, along with special teams ace J.T. Gray. In their place were free agent acquisitions Justin Reid, Julian Blackmon, Terrell Burgess, and rookie draft choice Jonas Sanker. Blackmon was sidelined for the year in the season opener and Burgess was mostly special teams, while Reid performed a bit below expectations. However, the veteran came on late in the year and Sanker, a third round pick, performed very well after replacing Blackmon.
New Orleans thought highly enough of Blackmon to quickly re-sign him at year’s end. Also consider that Alontae Taylor is most effective in a hybrid corner/safety role, but is now a free agent. The Reid/Sanker/Blackmon trio is solid, so safety isn’t necessarily a need for the Saints. If Alontae Taylor is lost in free agency though, the Saints could look to replace him with a cover safety instead of a traditional corner. While that solution could come through the draft, New Orleans may also look into a free agent answer.
Free agent safetiesJaquan Brisker (age 27)Coby Bryant (27)Nick Scott (31)Christian Izien (26)C.J. Gardner-Johnson (28)Alohi Gilman (28)
Brisker, taken by the Chicago Bears one pick before the Saints drafted Alontae Taylor in 2022, is one of the more underrated safeties in the NFL. He gives his defense the versatility to cover the slot, deep safety, or inside the box. Scott is more of a traditional safety but can play both centerfield or at the line of scrimmage. Each are expected to get fairly lucrative multi-year deals.
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Bryant was a key member on a strong Seahawks defense that fueled their Super Bowl LX title run. Capable of playing both corner and safety, Bryant has 7 interceptions and 15 passes broken up over the last two seasons along with 7 forced fumbles over his seven-year career. Izien has played mostly strong safety for the division rival Buccaneers, but has been effective in off-ball coverage in the slot.
Few have ever doubted the versatility or playmaking skills of former Saint Gardner-Johnson. It’s also noteworthy that he’s played for six different teams in the last five years and has had character concerns at almost all his stops. While there’s a completely different coaching staff and new defensive system from Gardner-Johnson’s previous stint in New Orleans, a reunion feels unlikely.
Saints’ outlook at safety
Adding a Jaquan Brisker or Coby Bryant would certainly bolster an already young and strong New Orleans secondary. However, it isn’t necessarily a need and both players could be costly. Given the talent already in the defensive backfield, it feels like the Saints would spend free agent money on other positions and only bring in a safety (J.T. Gray?) that would help on special teams, though a draft choice wouldn’t be out of the question.