A tackling machine and two-time All-ACC safety at Virginia, Jonas Sanker landed with New Orleans as a third-round pick and started immediately.
Jonas Sanker is a safety for the Saints who arrived as a third-round selection out of Virginia, where he was one of the ACC's most productive defenders and a team captain. He stepped into New Orleans' secondary as a rookie and played every game.
Path to the league
Sanker starred at Virginia, where he was a two-time First-Team All-ACC selection and finished his career with 273 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, two sacks, 17 pass breakups, two interceptions and four forced fumbles. He led the Cavaliers in tackles in both 2023 (107) and 2024 (98) and was voted a team captain after the 2024 season. The New Orleans Saints selected him in the third round (No. 93 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Sanker's college resume includes leading the ACC in solo tackles per game in 2023 and testing well at the NFL Combine, including a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and a 36.5-inch vertical jump. His blend of tackling production and instincts made him one of the top safety prospects available in his draft class.
2025 season recap
As a rookie, Sanker played all 17 games for New Orleans and recorded an interception, showing early that he could handle a significant role in the Saints' secondary right away.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jonas Sanker
- Pro Football Reference: Jonas Sanker
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
17 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | saints | 17 | 80 | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Safety
- Group
- defense
- College
- Virginia
- Hometown
- Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
