The New Orleans Saints landed another big free agent signing after the 2019 NFL Draft. Per a report from Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune, the Saints reached an agreement with rookie pass rusher Porter Gustin. Gustin went undrafted after playing at the collegiate level with the USC Trojans.
When he was on the field, Gustin proved to be a problem for opposing offenses. Injuries limited him to just 10 games over the last two years, but he made the most of his opportunities with 10.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in that time. In his full four-year, 34-game career, Gustin racked up 21.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss, along with five pass deflections and a fumble recovery. He also tallied 137 tackles (84 solo). Per Pro Football Focus charting, his per-snap pass rush productivity rating ranked sixth in the draft class.
But the concern with Gustin is his lengthy injury history. A surgically-repaired toe injury flared up twice in the 2017 season, and he ended up cutting the season short after tearing his biceps muscle. In 2018, a midseason ankle fracture ended his senior year. The guy hasn’t been able to catch a break.
But if his pro day performance is any indication, those latest ailments might be well behind him. Gustin wowed scouts with impressive times in the three-cone drill (6.97 seconds), 20-yard shuttle (4.22), and 60-yard shuttle (11.84), all of which would have ranked among position leaders at the NFL Scouting Combine. He also timed the 40-yard dash in 4.69 seconds at 6-foot-4 1/2, 255 pounds. From a height/weight/speed profile, he compares well to former Saints defensive end Alex Okafor — except Gustin is a little faster.
If Gustin is going to make the team, he’ll need to prove that his physical gifts and playmaking ability translate to the pro game. He’ll also need to prove he can get healthy and maintain his body after taking hits in so many different areas the last two years. But he’ll have every opportunity to succeed in New Orleans.
