26 starts in 49 games. 31 quarterback hits. 19 tackles for loss. The stats matter, but the timing of Bresee’s potential injury matters more. One week into training camp, and the New Orleans Saints already face a season-altering blow with their rising defensive tackle feared to have torn his ACL.
Bresee's season over? Diagnosis still pending
Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, the 2023 first-round pick, is not expected to play for the rest of the 2026 season, according to Ian Rapoport. The injury is feared to be a torn ACL, though official confirmation is still pending. If it is, Bresee will miss the entire year, a devastating setback. Rapoport says tests are ongoing, but the early signs are not promising. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the 24-year-old would be out of commission for the entire season, ending 2026 with zero games played. Bresee has recorded 14.5 sacks and 86 tackles across 49 games with the Saints. The New Orleans also holds a $13 million club option for the 2027 season as part of his rookie contract. Bresee left practice early under his own power, and initial evaluations suggested he tore the ACL in his knee. The Saints feared the worst and are expected to be without one of their few difference-makers on defense. More tests will confirm the severity, but the news raises the question of whether the Saints have enough depth at the position to weather this storm. The Saints are likely to bring in someone to take Bresee's place in the rotation, and here are four potential trade candidates to keep an eye on as other teams ramp up their own training camps in the days and weeks ahead.
A key player with a key contract year
This was supposed to be a big year for Bresee. With his fifth-year option in place for 2027, a strong 2026 could have landed him a long-term deal. Now, he’s out, and the clock is running. He enters 2027 a full year removed from what could be an ACL tear, which could delay his return to form — and his leverage at the negotiating table. Had he played well this season, he might have already locked in a deal beyond 2027. Now, it’s uncertain. His performance will have to wait, and his career development will be on hold for another year. Unfortunately, this is not unfamiliar territory for Bresee. During his Clemson career, he suffered a torn ACL against NC State in September 2021, ending that season after just four games. He battled back from that injury and eventually became the No. 29 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Bresee arrived at Clemson as the nation's No. 1 overall recruit and made an immediate impact. He earned Freshman All-American honors in 2020 and became just the second Tiger to win ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, joining Dexter Lawrence. Over three seasons with Clemson, Bresee appeared in 26 games, making 21 starts. He finished his college career with 64 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, nine sacks, four pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble and a safety. 2026 was set to be an extremely impactful year for Bresee. He took a step forward in 2025, and his run defense became more consistent. This season was supposed to be the year that he could put everything together and prove to everyone that he is the franchise's star DT. With a potential contract extension set in 2028, Bresee must prove to the Saints that it will be worth it, but missing an entire year could prevent that.
What it means for the Saints
Bresee’s absence is a blow to the Saints’ defense, which leaned on him more in each of his three seasons. He was on the rise, and with his combination of sack numbers and interior disruption, the Saints had built around his growth. His injury opens questions about the defense’s interior depth and how much it can compensate. The team will need to rely more on backups and younger players to step up, which may test their readiness. Without Bresee, the Saints’ ability to disrupt opposing offenses could be severely diminished. Bresee started 15 games last season and recorded a career-high 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and five tackles for loss. Replacing his combination of size and athleticism will require multiple players to take on larger roles. Christen Miller, the Saints' second-round rookie, was selected with the No. 42 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and recorded 64 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks during his college career at Georgia. The 310-pound rookie should provide immediate value against the run, but New Orleans might also need to see him develop into an interior pass-rushing threat during his first season. Vernon Broughton, another candidate to receive Bresee's lost snaps, was the Saints' 2025 NFL Draft pick at No. 71. A hip injury ended his rookie season after just one game, but the Saints drafted Broughton because of his ability to create disruption from the interior. He recorded four sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles during his final season at Texas. The Saints now need that potential to translate much sooner than initially expected. Nathan Shepherd, the proven veteran of the group, appeared in 16 games with eight starts last season, finishing with 47 tackles, three sacks, and four tackles for loss. Shepherd was already expected to remain an important part of the defensive line rotation. Bresee's injury could force him into a much larger role, particularly on passing downs when the Saints need someone capable of generating pressure from the inside. Potential trade targets the Saints could pursue to fill the void left by Bresee include Vita Vea, Daron Payne, Tommy Togiai, and Byron Young. Vita Vea, 31, is the top name on the market but his price tag and the Saints' cap situation make him unlikely. Daron Payne, 29, could be a better fit with a lower cost and a potential restructure. Tommy Togiai, 26, is ascending in Houston and could be a valuable addition. Byron Young, 25, could provide more than current contributors and is available at a lower cost. The Saints are expected to bring in someone to fill Bresee's role, and these players are among the names to watch. The defensive tackle position was already a questionable group, so this new injury makes it even more of a question mark. It's arguably the weakest part of the roster. Investments have been made, such as the selections of Vernon Broughton and Christen Miller, but those are two unproven commodities. Broughton only played one game last season, and Miller is a rookie. Then, behind them, Davon Godchaux is the NT, so he wouldn't fill Bresee's position, as the former first-round pick is in Brandon Staley's 3-4 DE spot. The same is true for John Ridgeway III, so that leaves Nathan Shepherd as really the only veteran DT that can step in. Already since Bresee went down with an injury, the Saints have utilized Broughton and Shepherd in that open spot, so those may be the two players to take over, but the edge rushers on the roster could also be in that position. Carl Granderson started the season playing more of an OLB role for the Saints, but as the season went on, he saw more consistent success as a 3-4 DE. He may end up being a player that can step up and hold the spot down while Bresee is out.