With the defensive front battered by injuries, New Orleans bets on a former Michigan standout’s elite athleticism to bolster their pass rush and provide much-needed depth.
The New Orleans Saints did not sign David Ojabo to rescue their defense overnight. They signed him because talented pass rushers are difficult to find, injuries are beginning to test their depth and a former second-round pick with something left to prove is worth a spot on the practice squad.
New Orleans officially added Ojabo on Thursday while preparing for Monday night’s NFC South matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The move came on the same day that edge rushers Carl Granderson and Anfernee Jennings missed practice with ankle and knee injuries, respectively.
That timing is not difficult to understand. Ojabo is not guaranteed to be elevated for Monday’s game. Still, his arrival gives the Saints another option if their injuries along the defensive front linger beyond Week 4.
Ojabo Still Carries Intriguing Potential
Baltimore selected Ojabo with the 45th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft after a breakout season at Michigan.
He produced 11 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles during his final college campaign. Some draft evaluators viewed him as a possible first-round selection before he tore his Achilles tendon during Michigan’s pro day.
That injury immediately changed his career trajectory.
Ojabo appeared in 32 games with one start over four seasons in Baltimore, recording 28 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He played 14 games in 2025 but produced only a half-sack.
Those are not the statistics of an established difference-maker. They also do not erase the length, athleticism and pass-rushing ability that once made him one of college football’s most exciting defensive prospects.
The Saints are betting that a change of scenery and a defined developmental role could uncover some of that ability.
For a practice-squad signing, that is a reasonable gamble.
New Orleans Suddenly Needs More Edge Depth
Granderson injured his ankle against Las Vegas but returned to the game. Jennings left with a knee injury and did not return. Both sat out Thursday’s practice.
Linebackers Pete Werner and Kaden Elliss also did not participate, while safety Julian Blackmon was limited by a calf injury. Those participation levels do not determine their availability for Monday, but four front-seven starters missing the first practice of the week is worth monitoring.
This becomes especially important against Atlanta.
The Falcons rank second in the NFL with 173 rushing yards per game, and Bijan Robinson has already accumulated 349 yards on 66 carries. The Saints cannot simply load their available edge defenders with pass-rushing assignments. They need players capable of setting the edge, controlling run lanes and surviving a physical game.
Ojabo has never been known primarily as a run defender. That is one reason expectations should remain measured. But fresh legs matter. So does having another athletic player available for obvious passing downs if New Orleans needs help.
Ojabo does not need to leapfrog everybody on the depth chart. If he earns an elevation later, his job can remain simple: attack the quarterback in clear passing situations and give the primary edge rushers a breather.
That limited role could suit him.
This Is a Developmental Move, Not a Quick Fix
Practice-squad signings rarely transform a defense immediately. Ojabo first must learn Brandon Staley’s terminology, demonstrate his conditioning and show that he can handle his assignments.
There is also no official indication that New Orleans intends to elevate him for Monday night. The more realistic value is longer term.
If Granderson or Jennings misses extended time, Ojabo provides experienced depth. If everyone becomes healthy, the Saints can continue evaluating a player who once recorded 11 sacks in a Big Ten season without using an active-roster spot.
That is good roster management.
My Two Pennies
I like this move because the Saints are not pretending everything is fine.
Their front-seven depth is being tested. Atlanta is bringing one of the league’s best rushing attacks into the Superdome. New Orleans needed another edge defender, and it found one with genuine physical upside and NFL experience.
Ojabo may never become the player many expected before his Achilles injury. That is the honest part.
But if the Saints can develop him into a useful rotational pass rusher, Thursday’s quiet practice-squad transaction could become considerably more important later in the season.
For now, let him learn, get comfortable and compete.
Sometimes the smartest additions are not immediate solutions. They are inexpensive chances on talent that once looked special.
