Saints Rookies Split Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Two young defensive backs had standout seasons for the New Orleans Saints

Feb. 12, 2026 at 8:23am

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The New Orleans Saints had a pair of impressive rookie defensive backs in 2025, with cornerback Quincy Riley and safety Jonas Sanker both making significant contributions to the team's secondary. The two players split the vote for the Saints' Defensive Rookie of the Year award, highlighting the team's strong draft class and the promising future of their defense.

Why it matters

The Saints' defense overperformed in 2025, thanks in large part to the contributions of their young players. Riley and Sanker's strong rookie seasons suggest the team has found building blocks for their secondary, which could be a key part of their defensive core going forward.

The details

Quincy Riley, a fourth-round pick, took on a bigger role in Week 5 and helped the Saints rank fourth against the pass. He had an interception and broke up 10 passes while allowing just a 59% completion percentage when targeted. Jonas Sanker, a rookie safety, was thrust into a difficult position following the departure of Tyrann Mathieu, but still produced 80 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery.

  • The Saints' 2025 season took place from September 2025 to January 2026.

The players

Quincy Riley

A fourth-round draft pick cornerback who had a standout rookie season, helping the Saints' pass defense rank fourth in the NFL.

Jonas Sanker

A rookie safety who was thrust into a starting role and produced 80 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in his first NFL season.

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What they’re saying

“Holding down the CB2 role all season, he proved to be far more than just a serviceable starter and consistently rose to the challenge.”

— Luke Loffredo (Yahoo Sports)

“The Saints look to have hit some home runs in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Sanker in one of them. He was thrust into a difficult position following an incredible career run by Tyrann Mathieu. Sanker produced, registering 80 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.”

— Crissy Froyd (Yahoo Sports)

The takeaway

The Saints' strong 2025 draft class, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, has set the team up for continued success in the coming years. The split Defensive Rookie of the Year award between Riley and Sanker highlights the depth and potential of the Saints' young defensive players, who could form the backbone of the team's defense for seasons to come.