Sanker Shines as Rookie Safety for Saints

Jonas Sanker exceeded expectations in his rookie season with the Saints, playing 89% of the team's defensive snaps (978 total) after being thrust into a starting role due to Julian Blackmon's season-ending injury in week one. The third-round pick from Virginia proved to be a valuable addition, leading the secondary with 8 tackles in week 2 and recording the team's first interception against Buffalo.

The safety finished second among Saints defensive backs with 80 total tackles, including 3 for loss and 46 solo stops. Sanker showed excellent range and instincts as a deep safety, helping the Saints defense rank 4th against the pass and 9th overall. While there were some inconsistencies in his tackling down the stretch, his performance was crucial to the development of the team's young secondary.