The New Orleans Saints fell to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Caesars Superdome in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season. Here are three overreactions from this weekend’s matchup:
Carl Granderson will lead the NFL in sacks
To open his seventh professional campaign, the 28-year-old former UDFA out of Wyoming is tied for the league lead with four sacks, recording two in each of the first two weeks.
With Chase Young still sidelined by a calf injury, Granderson has taken full advantage of being the lead pass
rusher with another dominant performance.
After posting 8+ sacks in each of the past three seasons, he looks to be well on his way to a fourth straight year—and like I said around this time last season, I think Granderson has a real chance to lead the league in sacks if he can build off this momentum.
Rookie Danny Stutsman will replace Pete Werner
Pete Werner, who signed a three-year, $25 million deal with New Orleans in August 2024, is off to a slow start in year five.
Through two weeks, the 26-year-old owns the third-lowest defensive grade on the team at 40.2, with three missed tackles and nine receptions allowed on 12 targets for 119 yards and a touchdown. Pass coverage has clearly been a major struggle for him.
With Danny Stutsman impressing this offseason, it might be worth giving him a shot next to 36-year-old Demario Davis, who seems to be aging backwards as the league’s second-highest graded run stopper at 92.7.
Though it’s only been two games, Werner’s decline is already worrying, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Stutsman’s reps start to increase.
Charlie Smyth will replace Blake Grupe
Before the season, I boldly predicted that Blake Grupe—who was named a captain for the first time—would earn his first All-Pro nod after an impressive offseason. He even hit 96% of his kicks in training camp. But through two games, it looks more likely that he could be sidelined for second-year Irishman Charlie Smyth rather than mounting an All-Pro campaign.
Grupe currently has a 42.2 overall grade after missing two field goals—one from 30–39 yards and another from 40–49.
Recently, trusted veteran kickers have been benched for struggles—like Younghoe Koo of the rival Atlanta Falcons—so I wouldn’t be surprised if Charlie Smyth gets an early opportunity should Grupe’s struggles continue.
