The defensive line for the New Orleans Saints could use a player like Isaiah Foskey to assume a bigger role in 2025. With Cameron Jordan potentially entering his final season and questions about the depth along the DL, the former second-round pick has plenty of opportunity for an increase in role and playing time in the games that do count.
The young edge rusher hasn't seen the field much at all in his first two seasons, and even his special teams snaps have been limited. Sadly, the first look at Foskey in the preseason was not particularly impressive.
Isaiah Foskey continues to struggle
The pass rusher played a lot of snaps for the Saints to begin preseason play. Unfortunately, the impact on the game from Foskey did not coincide with how much he was on the field for New Orleans. He struggled to win pass rush reps, and his performance was overshadowed by a day three selection from this year's draft. That's not a great sign for the former second-round pick.
Even with plenty of reps to put doubts behind him, Foskey simply did not do that. Getting that much playing time in the first exhibition game as a third year player usually isn't a great sign, either.
Foskey has never lived up to the early day two expectations, and now, he's dealing with a defensive coaching staff that did not choose him in the draft. He was tied to Dennis Allen's coaching regime. That is no more in New Orleans.
Rookie Fadil Diggs impresses to start preseason
Fadil Diggs was selected by the Saints with the 254th overall pick in this year's draft. He was a seventh-rounder, but he did not look like it against the Chargers. Diggs showed off his athleticism on multiple plays, including a sack. He totaled three tackles in the game and received plenty of reaction from social media.
For comparison on the stat sheet between Diggs and Foskey, the rookie has one sack in one game with New Orleans. Foskey has totaled just 1.5 sacks in 32 games with the Saints. He's simply been unable to get on the field whatsoever on defense. Meanwhile, Diggs has had some notable standout days during training camp and played well in his first NFL game action. That's not easy.
We will see if either player (or both) find their way onto the active roster to start the regular season. Fossey's draft slot feels like the only thing keeping him in contention for a spot at this point, and more lackluster preseason performances in the next couple of weeks may push the staff to move on from him.
