Jonas Sanker is turning heads for the New Orleans Saints in the 2025 preseason, flashing a versatile safety skill set that blends run support with reliable coverage. In the Chargers game he chased plays with decisive angles and delivered a standout pass breakup, then followed up against Jacksonville with five tackles and a game-sealing interception on a tipped ball. The early returns suggest the Virginia product is beyond just a depth piece and could earn meaningful snaps as the preseason progresses.

New Orleans’ safety room is evolving: Tyrann Mathieu’s retirement opens a leadership void, Julian Blackmon’s addition provides a dynamic veteran presence, and Sanker’s rise enhances the ceiling of a unit that already includes Howden and Reid. If the rookie keeps producing on every snap, the Saints may lean into a flexible, rotation-heavy back end that could be a sneaky booster for the defense and a real factor in late-season fantasy points from Saints defenders.

Bottom line: the preseason storyline centers on Sanker's ascent, the safety depth chart’s reshuffling, and how this could translate into real snaps come Week 1. For fantasy purposes, Sanker’s trajectory flags him as a potential breakout candidate if the Saints ride the momentum into the regular season and the coaching staff continues to trust his instincts on high-leverage plays.