The New Orleans Saints did not add an edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft, and a day later they moved to shore up that part of the roster by signing former New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings, according to a report from 's Jeremy Fowler.
Fowler wrote that the 28-year-old Jennings is signing with New Orleans and described him as a veteran pass rusher. He spent the last five seasons with New England, where he played in 75 games, started 40 and finished with 132 total tackles and 7.5 sacks. The reported move gives the Saints another body on the edge after they spent the draft adding players around Tyler Shough but left pass rush untouched.
The Saints had already made one move to address the front seven before the draft, trading a mid-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for Tyree Wilson. Jennings now fits as added depth behind New Orleans' current edge rushers, and he could become more important if Cameron Jordan does not return.
That is the tension in the Saints' plan. They have added pieces, but not the kind of proven edge presence that would make the group feel settled. Jennings' numbers show a useful rotation player rather than a headline addition: 27 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hits, three passes defended and two forced fumbles. The signing helps, but it does not answer the larger question of how New Orleans intends to finish the edge room if Jordan is out of the picture.
For Jennings, the move is a chance to carry his work from New England into a depth role on a defense that needs options right away. For the Saints, it is another sign that the pass rush remains a work in progress even after the draft has ended.