Countdown to Kickoff: Fadil Diggs is the Saints Player of Day 40

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Countdown to Kickoff: Fadil Diggs is the Saints Player of Day 40

Countdown to Kickoff: Fadil Diggs is the Saints Player of Day 40

Bob Rose , Saints Wire · Saints Wire

Tue, Aug 4, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Only 40 days remain until the New Orleans Saints open their regular season. The Saints begin their year on the road with a showdown against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Edge rusher Fadil Diggs is wearing No. 40 as New Orleans goes into training camp.

Diggs is entering his second NFL season. He saw some time as a rookie and will now face additional competition to hold his job. As that competition commences, we'll take a look at Diggs as our latest Saints Player of the Day.

Name (age): Fadil Diggs (24)
Hometown: Camden, N.J.
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 257 pounds
College: Syracuse Orange
Relative Athletic Score: 9.30
Drafted: Round 7, 254 overall in 2025 (Saints)
NFL experience: 1 year
2026 salary cap hit: $1.01 million

An offensive and defensive standout at Woodrow Wilson High School in New Jersey, Diggs was the Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year as a senior. The Texas A&M Aggies won the battle for the four-star recruit. However, Diggs saw little playing time in 2020 or 2021. He'd work his way into more reps in 2022, managing 3 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. He'd increase that production with 11 stops for loss and 4 sacks in 2023, but would transfer to Syracuse at year's conclusion. Diggs blossomed for the Orange, leading Syracuse with 7.5 sacks, 14 stops for loss, and 3 forced fumbles.

New Orleans finally grabbed Diggs off the NFL draft board at pick No. 254, just three selections before the end of the draft. The Saints released him at the end of training camp, but immediately re-signed him to the practice squad. Diggs was elevated to the active roster in time for Week 1, but would see action in only five games as a rookie. He'd play just 54 defensive snaps during the year, with 41 more on special teams, and did not record a tackle or pressure.

In 2026, Diggs must step up his game to keep his job. The Saints traded for edge rusher Tyree Wilson and signed free agent Anfernee Jennings this offseason. Diggs will have to show he can add disruption to the pass rush to stick around even in the back end of the depth chart.