The final year of a player’s rookie contract is often seen as a make-or-break opportunity. For Alex Anzalone, that’s even more true considering how much time he’s lost to injuries early in his New Orleans Saints career.
So it’s very encouraging to see that the linebacker has seized his opportunity. He’s been paired with Demario Davis in the starting lineup for nickel sets (which the Saints use more than most other defensive personnel packages), and remained on the field whenever the Saints roll out their base defense. Rookie draft pick Zack Baun and veteran free agent Nigel Bradham have been rotating in, but Anzalone is the guy to beat if either of them want to start.