New Orleans is seeing a solid group of young players step up on both sides of the ball, and many put together a big day in the team's loss to the Chicago Bears.
The New Orleans Saints are in the middle of a rebuild, and naturally, many rookie players are already getting some valuable playing time for the franchise.
This is especially true on the defensive side of the ball, which has had to utilize some of these younger players a bit more often than the offense. Let's see how well these rookies performed in the Black and Gold's 26-14 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 7.
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT (No. 9 overall)
Banks has quickly become a valuable member of the offensive line, which has struggled a good bit through the first seven games of the season. He led all linemen with an overall PFF grade of 76.2 against the Bears.
The first-round pick out of Texas has started to look more comfortable as the weeks have gone on, and that's evident in how much his play has improved. As of now, it looks like Banks could be a key player in the trenches for years to come -- that's exactly what you want out of a first-round pick.
Jonas Sanker, S (No. 93 overall)
Sanker has had to step into a big role rather quickly, and his season has been a bit up and down since. However, he bounced back somewhat against the Bears following a poor showing against the New England Patriots in Week 6.
Sanker recorded three solo tackles and a pair of assists on the day, and his coverage grade of 64.5 was among his better performances of the season. He'll have to keep some of that momentum rolling against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad that is a much bigger threat through the air.
Danny Stutsman, LB (No. 112 overall)
This former Oklahoma Sooner had a season-best day against Chicago, which should undoubtedly earn him even more playing team heading into the second half of the season.
Stutsman was all over the field, assisting his teammates on five tackles and having one solo tackle despite playing just 16 snaps on the day. The effort and energy he displays are exactly what New Orleans needs on a defense that largely consists of veterans in their final years.
Quincy Riley, CB (No. 131 overall)
The Saints' defensive secondary has been a weak spot so far, but Riley had a game that he'll always remember against the Bears.
`The fourth-round draft pick out of Louisville recorded his first NFL interception on Sunday. He's come close already this season, with a pass defended in each of his last three contests, but the athletic snag he made on a throw by signal-caller Caleb Williams got him pretty amped up.
Riley also rebounded well from a season-low coverage grade of 27.6 against New England, boasting a 78.1 grade just one week later. If he continues to build on this, he could be a big difference maker downfield.
Devin Neal, RB (No. 184 overall)
Neal had just one carry for one yard against the Bears. This isn't much of a surprise, given the fact that Alvin Kamara carries much of the load for the Black and Gold and quarterback Spencer Rattler is known to scramble.
However, Neal could hear his name called a bit more often from now on. Kendre Miller, who has served as the primary backup for Kamara, suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Chicago. Neal should get some more snaps in the coming weeks, and he's got a big opportunity to show exactly what he's made of.