Saints DC Brandon Staley could get the most out of Isaiah Foskey
02/23/2025
By Ross Jackson
When the New Orleans Saints drafted Notre Dame edge rusher Isaiah Foskey in the second-round of the 2023 NFL draft, hopes were high.
The pass rusher had been remarkably productive, with 22 total sacks in the two years leading up to the draft. He also had 27 tackles for a loss over the same three years.
Per Pro Football Focus, Foskey took over 200 snaps at each “LOLB” and “ROLB” during his 2021 and 2022 seasons with Notre Dame. Both designations may indicate that he played linebacker, but his overwhelming responsibilities were centered around rushing the passer and defending the run.That’s because Foskey’s primary position was that of “Viper,” which was a standup pass rusher role in the Fighting Irish defense.
Isaiah Foskey’s Notre Dame Deployment
|
Year |
LOLB Snaps |
ROLB Snaps |
Run Defense |
Pass Rush |
Coverage |
|
2021 |
219 |
245 |
229 |
311 |
23 |
|
2022 |
254 |
204 |
210 |
284 |
70 |
Since arriving in New Orleans, Foskey has been one of a running list of defenders that are being used much differently on defense than they were deployed in college. Many have already given up on Foskey and his potential to turn the corner, but is it so farfetched to wonder if his usage is the detriment rather than his talent?
Similar situations have already led to the departures of linebackers Kaden Elliss and Zack Baun. Both of whom found more success elsewhere. Getting the most of a second-round investment by finding his fit in a system more aligned with his talents should be the hope.
The numbers certainly seem to show that Foskey’s usage hardly reflects what got him drafted in the first place. While he has still been asked to rush the passer, his snaps are charted as a LEO or REO edge rusher rather than LOLB or ROLB. This indicates a shift from being a standup edge rusher to a three-point stance player.
Isaiah Foskey’s Saints Deployment
|
Year |
LOLB Snaps |
ROLB Snaps |
LEO Snaps |
REO Snaps |
Pass Rush |
|
2023 |
4 |
2 |
21 |
50 |
50 |
|
2024 |
7 |
3 |
16 |
26 |
33 |
Foskey dealt with some injuries during his first season, missing five games. But in 2024, he was relegated to a special teams role. If he finds more opportunities in a defense that plays to his comfort level, perhaps he can live up to that second-round investment. With new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley in the building, Foskey’s chance could be right around the corner.
