KB #97

Khristian Boyd

Defensive Tackle · Northern Iowa

A sixth-round FCS standout out of Northern Iowa still working to carve out a consistent role on New Orleans' defensive interior.

Khristian Boyd spent six seasons at Northern Iowa building a reputation as a disruptive interior lineman before the Saints took him in the sixth round of the 2024 draft. His NFL playing time has been limited through his first two seasons as he continues developing behind New Orleans' veteran defensive tackles.

★ First-team All-MVFC at Northern Iowa (2023)

★ 10.5 career sacks at Northern Iowa

★ 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl invitee

★ Sixth-round pick (199th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft

Path to the league

Boyd played six seasons for Northern Iowa, appearing in 49 games and racking up 149 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks, production that earned him first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors as a senior in 2023 along with third-team FCS All-American recognition. New Orleans selected him in the sixth round (199th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, a pick acquired in the trade that sent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Philadelphia.

Career highlights

Boyd's college resume is built on durability and disruption, with 10.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss over his Northern Iowa career, and he capped it off with an invitation to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl. His NFL role so far has been limited, with his early appearances coming mostly in a depth capacity behind the Saints' starting defensive line.

2025 season recap

Boyd has played sparingly through his first two NFL seasons, appearing in ten total games between 2024 and 2025 and recording seven tackles combined. He heads into his third season with New Orleans looking to compete for a larger share of defensive-line snaps.