The countdown to the New Orleans Saints 2024 regular season kickoff is underway as we highlight every player who wears the corresponding jersey number. With now 48 days remaining before the Saints’ Week 1 game against the Carolina Panthers, linebacker J.T. Gray is the Saints Player of the Day:
- Name (Age): J.T. Gray (28)
- Position: Safety
- Height, weight: 6-foot, 202 pounds
- Relative Athletic Score: 7.90
- 2024 salary cap hit: $3,480,000
- College: Mississippi State
- Drafted: Undrafted in 2018 (New Orleans Saints)
- NFL experience: 7 years
J.T. Gray has been one of the more consistent players for the Saints since his arrival to New Orleans. Although his primary role is as a core special-teamer, Gray’s ascension in that role has allowed his name to ring across the league for a while now. In 2019, Gray received second-team All-Pro honors as a specialist in only his second season in the league, leading the league with 16 tackles on special teams. Gray would follow that up with his second All-Pro selection in 2021, this time with the first-team. He would also get his first Pro Bowl nod that same season, solidifying his status as one of the league’s best.
Gray’s play has continued to impress in the seasons following, enough to earn him a three-year extension with the team in 2023. Not only does his performance on the field do the talking but he’s also been one of the Saints respected leaders in their locker room as one of the team captains each of the last four years.
When it comes to this upcoming season, Gray’s presence will continue to be instrumental. His play could very well be a deciding factor on where the team ranks on special teams at year’s end. Something that is interesting though is where the team is at in terms of the safety position. With some uncertainty at the position opposite Tyrann Mathieu, Gray could push his way into some rotational snaps if things look the way they do now. It isn’t very likely, but the team hasn’t been this low on depth at the position in quite some time.
Could Gray make his way into the rotation in ’24?
We’ll just have to wait and see.
