Vernon Broughton

Saints Officially Shifting To Base 3-4 Defense

While all NFL defenses play around with formations depending on the situation, every team has a base defense that functions as their identity and the starting point from which they can build out. The base defense is key in determining what types of defenders you bring in, as well. For instance, you might not want to bring in a standup outside linebacker if you run a base 4-3, in which he’ll be required to put his hand in the dirt, which could affect his pass rush arsenal.

Well, according to Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune, the Saints are officially switching to a base 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Staley learned the scheme from Vic Fangio during their time together in Chicago and Denver, while Fangio was a student of it all the way back during his first NFL gig as the Saints linebackers coach in the 1980s, when the imposing “Dome Patrol” quartet gained notoriety in New Orleans. But the 3-4 went away from the Superdome when then-head coach Jim Mora resigned in the late 1990s, and the defense has been mostly run out of a base 4-3 since then.

For the most part, the responsibilities of the secondary will remain unchanged in the new formation. The base defense will still include two safeties and two cornerbacks with extra defensive backs coming in for special formations. The responsibilities of the middle linebackers will also remain mostly the same, barring the fact that their new base defense allows for two strictly off-ball linebackers.

The differences come with the outside linebackers and the defensive line. When running a base 4-3, defensive ends are the main pass rushers. Outside linebackers can blitz on occasion, but for the most part, they act more as off-ball linebackers than edge rushers. The defensive tackles, in 4-3, are stout and strong, but they also usually to have a bit of a pass rush arsenal. In base 3-4, the outside linebackers become the main pass rushers, though they should also have the versatility to function off ball. The defensive ends now are more akin to defensive tackles in size and pass rush ability. The nose tackles become more important in the 3-4 as an over-the-center, usually heavier, run stuffer.

In New Orleans, determinations are being made as to which defenders will have what roles. Formerly defensive ends, Carl Granderson, Chase Young, Cameron Jordan, and Isaiah Foskey are now outside linebackers. They’ll have to adjust to working out of standup position, as opposed to the three-point stance they have been used to. In order to adjust to this new starting position, Young and Granderson have reportedly shed some weight.

The new defensive ends group is composed of Bryan Bresee, Jonah Williams, and Vernon Broughton, while the nose tackles will be former defensive tackles Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd, and Khalen Saunders. Their responsibilities won’t really change too much, aside from their new three-man lineup being surrounded by pass rushers from the linebacking corps.

Obviously, Staley and company will constantly be changing up looks and rotations throughout the course of games and the season based on different situations and different offenses they will face. But this change in the team’s base defense alters the role of several key, veteran players and will likely affect the prospective players New Orleans looks for in the future.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/25

The following 2025 draft picks signed their rookie contracts today:

Carolina Panthers

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

Draft Rumors: Visits, Green, Nolen, RBs

As the 2025 NFL Draft continues to draw nigh, teams are beginning to do their due diligence on each prospect, including hosting several for visits.

A perfect example of this saw the Saints host a bevy of Longhorns for a dinner last night, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The list of Texas prospects included possible first-rounders cornerback Jahdae Barron and wide receiver Matthew Golden as well as defensive tackle Vernon Broughton and quarterback Quinn Ewers.

The Saints weren’t the only team to spend time with Ewers yesterday, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Both the Jets and Raiders sent staffers to meet with the 22-year-old in Austin prior to the team’s pro day. Ewers has several visits planned following today’s pro day, as well, including meetings with the Cowboys, Colts, and Raiders, again, in early April.

Another potential Longhorn first-rounder, wide receiver Isaiah Bond, has also reportedly set up a number of visits following today’s pro day, per CJ Vogel of On Texas Football. Bond apparently has top-30 visits scheduled in the next month with the Falcons, Bears, Packers, and Rams.

Here are some more rumors concerning the 2025 NFL Draft:

  • East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is making the rounds, as well. After previously meeting with New Orleans, Revel reportedly visited the Texans on Friday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Revel is attempting to make a speedy recovery from a torn ACL that ended his final collegiate season after only three games. He’s reportedly on track to be ready to return in time for training camp.
  • One of Revel’s top competitors at the position in this year’s class, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, is set to meet with the Raiders, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Johnson has already met with the Falcons and reportedly met with the Cardinals already, as well.
  • Already having met with the Saints and Falcons, Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. is set to meet with several other franchises, per Wilson. One of the top tackle options in the class, Conerly has visits planned with the Texans, Eagles, Commanders, Bengals, and Bears. Wilson adds that, at the NFL Scouting Combine, Conerly already formerly met with the Texans, Jets, Titans, Patriots, Raiders, Commanders, and 49ers.
  • Marshall’s pro day garnered a few more visitors than usual today, thanks to the presence of potential first-round pass rusher Mike Green. According to Tony Pauline of sportskeeda, while several teams sent personnel to check Green out, the Falcons sent most of their front office as well as head coach Raheem Morris. Pauline adds that the Commanders also held a significant presence at the pass rusher’s pro day.
  • Due to the draft being more deep than top-heavy, there are several prospects who receive a wide range of opinions on when and where they’ll go in the draft. According to Matt Miller of ESPN, though, no player has a wider range than Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Transferring within the conference from Texas A&M for the final year of his collegiate career, Nolen had a strong, consensus All-American season with the Rebels, totaling 48 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 14 tackles for loss. Despite the impressive performance, Miller claims that “teams are torn on (Nolen’s) lack of refined pass-rush moves,” resulting in projections from the top 10 all the way back to the second round.
  • Last year was the second time in the three years that we saw no running backs taken in the first round of the draft. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, we could see two running backs hear their names called on Day 1 of the event this year. A running backs coach told Schultz that “there’s no way (Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty) falls outside the top 15-20 picks.” Jeanty has been projected in multiple mock drafts to both the Raiders at No. 6 overall and the Cowboys at No. 12. While the position is deep, with players like Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Ohio State’s duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, Miami’s Damien Martinez, and several others, it’s North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton who may have played himself into the first round with Jeanty. Schultz claims that a personnel director told him the only thing Hampton needed to do in order to go in Round 1 was run in the 4.4’s at the combine, and Hampton ran a 4.46. He may not get taken as high as Jeanty, but he should still be considered a first-round candidate come the end of April.