Countdown to Kickoff: Keeshawn Silver is the Saints Player of Day 61
Article excerpt
While the production didn't match his raw abilities in college, undrafted rookie Keeshawn Silver has the tools to stick on the Saints defensive front.
Just 61 days separate us from now until the New Orleans Saints regular season opener. The Saints will kick off 2026 with a road showdown at the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Newcomer Keeshawn Silver, a defensive tackle, wears No. 61 as the team closes in on training camp.
An undrafted rookie, Silver is one of several offseason additions New Orleans made at this position. He'll have a tough preseason battle in front of him, but for now he's our latest Saints Player of the Day.
Name (age): Keeshawn Silver (24)
Hometown: Rocky Mount, N.C.
Position: Defensive tackle
Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 330 pounds
College: USC Trojans
Relative Athletic Score: N/A
Drafted: Undrafted in 2026 (Saints)
NFL experience: Rookie
2026 salary cap hit: $893,333
A five-star recruit at Rocky Mount High School, Silver chose the in-state North Carolina Tar Heels over several other offers. He'd see very light action over two seasons, playing only six games and transferring in 2023 to the Kentucky Wildcats. He'd be a much bigger contributor there.
Silver appeared in 24 of a possible 25 contests between 2023 and 2024 for Kentucky. He had 1 sack and 3 tackles for loss among 43 total stops. At the conclusion of the 2024 campaign, Silver entered the transfer portal again. This time, the USC Trojans were his destination. Silver played all 13 games for USC last season, gathering 20 tackles with 2 for loss and 1 sack.
Keeshawn Silver has all the ideal attributes you could want in a defensive lineman. He has good power on a big frame with outstanding wingspan and good agility. He's also shown the versatility to play multiple spots along a defensive front. However, the production has never matched the raw skilled and he needs to play with better leverage and technique. He'll need both to fend off fellow undrafted rookies Zxavian Harris and Jay'Viar Suggs for even a chance at a role with the Saints. New Orleans is looking for more power and production up front though, giving Silver a legitimate shot with a strong preseason.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Keeshawn Silver is the Saints Player of Day 61