What Saints are getting in Christen Miller: Fit and scouting report

After picking wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the eighth choice in the first round on Thursday, the New Orleans Saints came back on Friday to go defense in the second round. With the 42nd overall selection and the 10th choice of the second round, the Saints went with Christen Miller, a Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle. Most expected New Orleans to address edge rusher or cornerback in the second round. They went another direction on that side of the ball instead, looking to upgrade a run defense that showed improvement in 2025 but still ranked only 19th in yards allowed.

Drafting a defensive lineman isn't new for the Saints. New Orleans has used a Day 1 or Day 2 draft choice on a defensive down lineman seven times in the last decade and now four times in the last four years. Miller is the largest player yet, and one of the biggest in this year's draft. Here's a look at what kind of player the Saints are getting and their logic behind the pick.

Christen Miller bio

• Position: Defensive tackle
• College: Georgia Bulldogs
• Height: 6-feet, 4 inches
• Weight: 321 pounds

Strengths

• A wall at the point of attack
• Tremendous upper body power
• Good explosion at the snap
• Maintains terrific balance through reps
• Good lateral movement and pursuit burst
• Throwback mentality and style of play

Weaknesses

• Must improve anchor at nose tackle spot
• Needs to show better run block anticipation
• Counter moves must be developed in pass rush
• Needs to be productive against consistent double-teams

One major thing lacking in the Saints defense last season was that they had no big-bodied gap stuffer in the middle. There's little doubt that this is what New Orleans envisioned when they selected Christen Miller in the second round. Miller has the body of a prototype NFL nose tackle with the agility to also flourish at tackle in four-man fronts. He'll need to improve his leverage consistency a bit and may need to add a little bulk for 0-technique duties, but expect him to be a frontrunner for an immediate starting position up front.

Miller also plays with an aggression and throwback style that can be contagious to his teammates. It's not unusual for him to make plays along the edge and will be a handful for blockers on each snap. Even if he doesn't fill up a stat sheet, the hope is that Christen Miller can tie up double-teams to open up opportunities for teammates, get interior push into the backfield, and clog inside rushing lanes. If Miller can accomplish that, then he gives the New Orleans defense what they've lacked for the last few seasons.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: What Saints are getting in Christen Miller: Fit and scouting report