Saints sign former Patriots LB Anfernee Jennings

TL;DR

The New Orleans Saints have signed former New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings. Jennings is known for his run defense and experience as an outside linebacker, providing a short-term solution for the Saints' linebacker position.

Key points

Saints signed former Patriots LB Anfernee Jennings
Jennings is known for his run defense
He has experience playing outside linebacker
Jennings is not a prolific pass rusher
He provides a short-term fix for the Saints

New Orleans SaintsNew England Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: Anfernee Jennings #33 of the New England Patriots looks on during an NFL wild card playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images The New Orleans Saints just finished the 2026 NFL Draft, and their draft class was a standout among all NFL teams. New Orleans was able to attack many of their positions of need while also getting great value and raising the cieling of this roster. Getting all three of these done at once is a recipe for another excellent draft class, but even if that is true, the Saints were unable to address some of their positions of need. Slot CB and EDGE were not addressed in the draft. Yes, TJ Hall may be able to play slot, and Tyree Wilson may be able to be a depth piece, but guaranteed starters are missing. So, trying to find players to fit those roles before the season is important, and the Saints may have done that at LB/EDGE. Today, it was announced that the Saints have signed former New England Patriots LB/EDGE Anfernee Jennings. Let me start by saying that Jennings is not going to be a productive pass rusher who can rack up sacks throughout the season. That is not his game, and for the most part, he gets effort sacks. With that in mind, Jennings is an incredible run defender who helped the Patriots get to the Super Bowl. Also, Jennings has experience playing OLB, so he will fit right in across from . Although he is not the best starting LB, Jennings can be put in on non-passing downs, and he could be a really good short-term fix at that position.

Q&A

What are Anfernee Jennings' strengths as a linebacker?

Anfernee Jennings is recognized for his exceptional run defense and ability to contribute on non-passing downs, although he is not a prolific pass rusher.

How does Anfernee Jennings fit into the Saints' defensive lineup?

Jennings is expected to play alongside Chase Young, providing depth and experience at the linebacker position for the Saints.

What impact did Anfernee Jennings have with the New England Patriots?

During his time with the Patriots, Jennings was instrumental in their run defense and contributed to the team's success in reaching the Super Bowl.