We’ve got 58 days to go until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2024 regular season against the Carolina Panthers, which makes Anfernee Orji our Saints Player of the Day. The current owner of the No. 58 jersey spent a year on the Saints practice squad which prepared him to compete for a roster spot at training camp later this summer:
- Name (Age): Anfernee Orji (23)
- Position: Linebacker
- Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 230 pounds
- Relative Athletic Score: 9.23
- 2024 salary cap hit: $795,000
- College: Vanderbilt
- Drafted: Undrafted in 2023 (New Orleans Saints)
- NFL experience: 1 year
Orji received $226,000 in guarantees last spring to sign with the Saints as an undrafted free agent, which just trails this year’s leader (tight end Dallin Holker, who was guaranteed $235,000). He showed some impressive movement skills through training camp and preseason but missed too tackles, and he spent his rookie year on the practice squad.
Now he’s competing with guys like D’Marco Jackson, Khaleke Hudson, Monty Rice, Jaylan Ford, and Isaiah Stalbird for two, maybe three roster spots, depending on how soon Nephi Sewell can return from a December knee injury. Orji’s coaches know him well and he has a good handle on the playbook. He also has the physical tools to stand apart from the pack. He just needs to put it all together and show he can be relied on when his number is called. Helping out on special teams will do a lot to strengthen his case, but it’s also important that he hold up in coverage and tackle cleanly when needed on defense.
