​In 62 days, the New Orleans Saints will officially launch their 2026 regular season, opening on the road against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Wearing No. 62 for New Orleans as they head into training camp is Jay’Viar Suggs, a rookie defensive tackle who is trying to carve out a role on the interior of the Saints’ defensive line. An undrafted rookie, Suggs faces a competitive path to earn his spot, as the Saints have added several players to bolster that interior unit this offseason. As Suggs begins his bid for steady snaps inside, here’s a closer look at him as our Saints Player of the Day.
Name (age): Jay’Viar Suggs (25)
Hometown: Clarkston, Michigan
Position: Defensive tackle
Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 305 pounds
College: Wisconsin Badgers
Relative Athletic Score: 8.89
Drafted: Undrafted in 2026 (Saints)
NFL experience: Rookie
2026 salary cap hit: $891,666
Suggs hails from Clarkston High School in Michigan and began his college football journey at Grand Valley State University in Division II. He redshirted in 2019, watched the 2020 season canceled due to the pandemic, and saw limited action in 2021. His disruptive potential started to show in 2022, when he posted 3 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and 5 passes defensed on just 21 total tackles. In 2023, he received second-team all-conference recognition after recording 5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss.
Following the 2023 season, Suggs transferred to the LSU Tigers. He appeared in 12 of 13 games for LSU in 2024, adding 2.5 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. After that campaign, he transferred again, this time joining the Wisconsin Badgers. In 2025 with Wisconsin, Suggs contributed a sack and 2 tackles for loss and also generated 15 quarterback pressures, underscoring his ability to apply pressure from the interior.
Jay’Viar Suggs enters a Saints defensive line that has been reshaped this offseason. New Orleans added second-round pick Christen Miller and brought in fellow undrafted rookies Zxavian Harris and Keeshawn Silver to bolster the interior along with Suggs. The Saints are intent on increasing the physicality and tenacity of their interior front, and Suggs will have ample opportunity to prove himself in training camp and the preseason. Although undrafted, he arrives with a track record of pass-rush development and interior disruption, giving him a real chance to earn a meaningful role as the Saints attempt to upgrade their front-line physicality.
As Suggs begins the competition for snaps, he stands as a notable addition to a group that competition will define over the summer. His journey from Grand Valley State to LSU and finally to Wisconsin before landing with New Orleans illustrates a career built on versatility and persistence, traits the Saints clearly value as they seek to round out their defensive interior ahead of the 2026 season. This makes him a compelling figure to watch as camp opens and the battle for the Saints’ interior line carries on, with Suggs hoping to capitalize on his opportunities and prove himself as a contributor in the New Orleans defensive front. This piece originally appeared on Saints Wire, highlighting Jay’Viar Suggs as the Saints Player of the Day in a countdown to Kickoff.