Saints Commit to Bryan Bresee with Fifth-Year Option
The New Orleans Saints are showing confidence in former first-round pick Bryan Bresee.
When the Saints selected the Clemson defensive lineman with the 29th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, expectations were high. While Bresee hasn’t fully lived up to a first-round billing, he has recorded 16 sacks over his first three seasons. He did see a statistical dip in 2025 after posting a career-high eight sacks the year before.
Despite some inconsistency, the Saints believe Bresee has proven enough to warrant staying in New Orleans. General manager Mickey Loomis and the front office reportedly exercised his fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through the 2027 season, according to Nick Underhill.
Since Bresee was a first-round selection, the team had the option to extend his contract for a fifth year. That year comes with a guaranteed $13.93 million, the standard amount for players in the basic tier who don’t meet certain playtime thresholds, as noted by OverTheCap.
Statistically, Bresee’s Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades improved in 2025, but his overall score of 52.9 ranked him 88th out of 134 eligible defensive tackles. At 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, Bresee is not a traditional defensive tackle; he excels at rushing the passer but can struggle with run defense. Last season, he played 667 snaps across 15 games—less than 60% of the team’s total—with time split between defensive tackle and edge positions.
For the Saints, picking up Bresee’s fifth-year option is a low-risk move on a former first-round talent who has shown flashes of potential. Had he made a Pro Bowl in his first three seasons, the option would have exceeded $22 million, making the decision more complicated. Now, Bresee has two “prove-it” seasons in 2026 and 2027 to show he deserves a long-term extension with the Saints.
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