Saints take DL Bryan Bresee with 29th pick

The New Orleans Saints selected Clemson interior defensive lineman Bryan Bresee in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 29th overall.

Bresee enjoyed a decorated career with the Tigers, recording 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks across three seasons.

Bolstering the defensive line became a priority for the Saints this offseason after they lost tackle David Onyemata in free agency to the Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans has also signed veteran linemen Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders.

Pre-draft profile

A host of injuries slowed Bresee's development over his career at Clemson. However, the athletic ability that once made him the nation's top recruit is still quite apparent, and he's demonstrated the ability to process the run game at a high level. Staying healthy and getting the necessary time to build on his pass-rush repertoire while improving his technique to defeat blocks would give Bresee every opportunity to emerge as an impact every-down player at the next level. He could be in for a much more productive pro career than he enjoyed in college.