The 2023 NFL Draft provided the New Orleans Saints with an opportunity to try and turn things around, focusing on rebuilding instead of delving further into an already tough cap situation. One of the components that could have helped turn things around sooner was their draft class, and at the top was defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, selected at No. 29 with the pick from the Sean Payton trade.
Through the first three seasons of his career, Bresee has gone from an inconsistent rotational interior player to a high-end pass-rushing defensive tackle, and then back to underwhelming in most categories. 2025 was not his best work by any means, and despite having some pass-rushing upside in 2024, he lost quite a bit this past year, which has tanked his value for the time being.
Upcoming is a big decision for the Saints as well with him, as they will need to choose whether or not to pick up his fifth-year option this spring, with the deadline being May 1. Over that span of five draft classes from 2019 to 2023, the Saints will have only picked up one fifth-year option if they decline Bresee, that being Chris Olave. Fifth-year options for Trevor Penning, Payton Turner, and Cesar Ruiz were declined, and the team did not have a first-round selection in 2019.
A great difficulty with this call will be the price, as Over The Cap projects Bresee’s fifth-year option at a whopping $12.99 million, compared to only being paid a total of $12.2 million in all of his first four seasons combined.
In all honesty, he has not shown enough as of yet to be given that type of figure, and it may be more beneficial to wait it out throughout 2026, figuring out an extension down the road if he does break out. The run defense he provides is well below average, and that becomes a liability on a team that already struggles in that regard, so it may be a better opportunity to use that money elsewhere, and give another draft pick like Vernon Broughton a chance, or consider Khristian Boyd. Don’t be shocked if the Saints look to the draft again in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints must pick up Bryan Bresee’s option or let him test free agency