Countdown to Kickoff: Khristian Boyd is the Saints Player of Day 97

We are down to 97 days that separate us from the New Orleans Saints 2026 regular season opener. On Sunday, Sept. 13, the Saints will kick off their year with a showdown against the Detroit Lions on the road. Defensive tackle Khristian Boyd is wearing No. 97 for New Orleans as the team heads towards training camp in July.

Our countdown to kickoff series at Saints Wire continues today, as we take a look at Boyd’s brief NFL career.

Name (age): Khristian Boyd (26)

Hometown: Blue Springs, Mo.

Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 320 pounds

College: Northern Iowa Panthers

Relative Athletic Score: 4.63

Drafted: 6th round/199th overall in 2024 (Saints)

2026 salary cap hit: $1,119,707

After a productive collegiate career at Northern Iowa, Boyd stood out at the 2024 East-West Shrine workouts. It was enough for the Saints to use a mid-6th round choice on him in 2024. Just two years earlier, New Orleans had used a first round pick on offensive tackle Trevor Penning, Boyd’s teammate at Northern Iowa.

As a rookie, Boyd saw action in six games. He appeared in 74 defensive snaps, 20% of the total on that side of the ball, while contributing just three total tackles. Boyd would play in only four games during the 2025 season, but with a slightly increased total of 77 defensive snaps, 29% of the team’s total. He had 4 tackles with 1 QB hit and made a couple critical plays against the run.

Over the last few seasons, the Saints have been desperate for a big-bodied run-stopper on the inside. Khristian Boyd has the physical profile and strength for such a duty, but has yet to earn the role that New Orleans needs. This offseason, the Saints added defensive tackle Christen Miller with a second-round draft choice and signed undrafted but promising rookie Zxavian Harris. Boyd could be in for a major fight to keep a spot on the New Orleans depth chart.

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: A detailed view of a New Orleans Saints helmet is seen on the field during a OTA Off season Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Head coach Kellen Moore of the New Orleans Saints speaks to media during a OTA Off season Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Head coach Kellen Moore of the New Orleans Saints speaks to media during the OTA Off season Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Travis Etienne Jr. #3 of the New Orleans Saints attends the OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Moliki Matavao #80 of the New Orleans Saints attends the OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Jordyn Tyson #0 of the New Orleans Saints attends the OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Oscar Delp #3 of the New Orleans Saints attends the OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Travis Etienne Jr. #3 of the New Orleans Saintsduring a OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Spencer Rattler #2 of the New Orleans Saints attends the OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Tyler Shough #6 and CJ Donaldson #43 of the New Orleans Saints attend the OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Tyler Shough #6 of the New Orleans Saintsduring a OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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Saints WR Chris Olave remains present at OTAs as he seeks extension

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Chris Olave #12 of the New Orleans Saintsduring a OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Barion Brown #19 of the New Orleans Saintsduring a OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: CJ Donaldson #43 of the New Orleans Saintsduring a OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Jay’Viar Suggs #62 of the New Orleans Saintsduring a OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Photos from first practice of New Orleans Saints OTAs

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: Justin Reid #21 of the New Orleans Saintsduring a OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

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LOOK: Highlights from Saints’ second week of OTAs practices

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – MAY 28: The New Orleans Saints defense stands in a huddle during a OTA Off season Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on May 28, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Khristian Boyd is the Saints Player of Day 97

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