Report: Saints Sign First-Round Pick Bryan Bresee
New Orleans Saints first-round choice Bryan Bresee has signed his rookie contract, per NFL reporter Aaron Wilson. Bresee's deal is for four years with $12.27 million guaranteed and a $5.92 million signing bonus. His yearly salaries will be $750,000 (2023), $1.3 million ('24), $1.87 million ('25), and $2.43 million ('26) with a fifth-year rookie option available.
New Orleans signed four of their seven draft picks last Friday. Running back Kendre Miller, G/T Nick Saldiveri, S Jordan Howden, and WR A.T. Perry all agreed to four-year rookie contracts. Only DE Isaiah Foskey (second round) and QB Jake Haener (fourth) remain unsigned.
The 29th overall selection out of Clemson, Bresee was fourth defensive tackle chosen. He'll have a vital spot in a revamped Saints defensive tackle position that includes offseason free-agent additions Nate Shepherd and Khalen Saunders.
Bresee is the first defensive tackle drafted by the Saints in the first four rounds in the last eight years. New Orleans selected Sheldon Rankins in the first round and David Onyemata in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
In three years with Clemson, Bresee had nine sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He was limited to just four games in 2021 because of a knee injury. However, he rebounded strong last season with 3.5 sacks and 5.5 stops for loss.
At 6'6" and 298-Lbs., Bresee is an explosive player with good strength along the interior. He flashed extremely disruptive potential in college as both a pass rusher and run defender.
Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (11) sacks Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) during the 2022 Orange Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans ranked just 24th against the run in 2022. Their defensive tackles were often pushed off the point of attack and were responsible for only 13.5 of the team’s 94 sacks the last two seasons.
Saints tackles David Onyemata, Shy Tuttle, and Kentavius Street departed as free agents this offseason. Only Malcolm Roach returns in an interior rotation that includes Shepherd, Saunders, and now Bresee.
