NFL CAREER –Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming in 2019, the sixth-year pro posted a career-best season in 2023, starting all 17 games and finishing with a career-high 78 tackles (43 solo), 14 stops for loss, one pass breakup, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a team-leading 8.5 sacks. Granderson has shown persistence to throughout his NFL career, playing in 71 games with 24 starts, racking up 179 tackles (102 solo), 23 sacks, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in his first five seasons. His development has been key for the Black and Gold defense, leading New Orleans to sign him to a four-year contract extension at the start of the 2023 season. Granderson looks to continue to build upon his career season and lead New Orleans' defensive line unit in 2024.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to a four-year contract extension, 9/23/23; Activated from Reserve/COVID-19, 12/30/21; Placed on Reserve/COVID-19, 12/25/21; Signed as an undrafted free agent, 5/10/19.
2023 – Started all 17 games at RDE, also contributing on special teams, recording a career-high 78 tackles (43 solo), 14 stops for loss, one pass breakup, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a team-leading 8.5 sacks…Vs. Tennessee, Sept. 10, recorded three tackles (one solo), 1.5 sacks, a stop for loss, and four QB hurries…At Carolina, Sept. 18, recorded two solo tackles and a sack/stop for loss/forced fumble…At Green Bay, Sept. 24, recorded four tackles (two solo)…Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, finished with four tackles (two solo)…At New England, Oct. 8, finished with four tackles (three solo), three stops for loss, two QB hits, and a sack. Helped lead Saints defense to a 34-0 shutout win over the Patriots, while surrendering only 156 total net yards…At Houston, Oct. 15, recorded six tackles, two stops for loss, and a sack/QB hit…Vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 19, recorded six tackles (tied career-high with five solo stops), a stop for loss, and recovered his first fumble of season…At Indianapolis, Oct. 29, finished with five tackles (three solo), a stop for loss and a sack…Vs. Chicago, Nov. 5, finished with six tackles (four solo) and one stop for loss…At Atlanta, Nov. 26, had a career-high/team-best ten tackles…Vs. Detroit, Dec. 3, recorded three tackles, two QB hits, and a pass breakup…Vs. Carolina, Dec. 10, Finished with five tackles (four solo) and a sack/stop for loss/QB hit…Vs. N.Y. Giants, Dec. 17, recorded three tackles (two solo), and a sack/stop for loss/QB hit…At L.A. Rams, Dec. 21, finished with eight tackles (three solo) and a sack/stop for loss/QB hit, recording takedowns in three consecutive games for first time in his career…At Tampa Bay, Dec. 31, finished with a tackle…Vs. Atlanta, 1/724, finished with four tackles (three solo) with a stop for loss and a QB hit. 2022 – Played in 16 games with four starts, posting 53 tackles (30 solo), 5.5 sacks for a loss of 33.5 yards and a fumble recovery…Vs. L.A. Rams, Nov. 20, started at RDE and played on special teams. Notched seven tackles (three solo), including one stop for loss, and added 1.5 sacks for loss of 12.5 yards…At Tampa Bay, Dec. 5, posted four tackles (three solo) and first career fumble recovery…Vs. Atlanta, Dec. 18, recorded seven tackles (four solo) with a half-sack/QB hit…At Cleveland, Dec. 24, started at RDE and registered six tackles (five solo), including three stops for loss and a sack…At Philadelphia, 1/123, started at RDE and posted two tackles (one solo) and 1.5 sacks of QB Gardner Minshew for a loss of six yards, marking the first time in his career where he had three consecutive contests with at least half a takedown. Added a stop for loss and two QB hits. 2021 – Appeared in 15 games with three starts and finished with 24 tackles (11 solo), three sacks and an assisted special teams stop…At Carolina, Sept. 19, made first NFL start at RDE and played on special teams. Recorded five tackles (two solo), and blocked a field goal attempt…At Washington, Oct. 10, recorded one solo tackle/sack for a four-yard loss…Vs. Buffalo, Nov. 25, started and finished with three tackles (two solo) and a sack of college teammate and Bills QB Josh Allen…At N.Y. Jets, Dec. 12, recorded two solo tackles with one sack…At Tampa Bay, Dec. 19, finished with two tackles (one solo)…Vs. Carolina, 1/2/22, rotated on both defense and on special teams and recorded three tackles…In finale at Atlanta, 1/9/22, finished with one tackle. 2020 – Appeared in 15 regular season games and both postseason contests and finished season with 14 tackles (11 solo), five sacks for a 25-yard loss, one pass defense and two forced fumbles…Recorded two solo tackles, his first career forced fumble and a sack of QB Tom Brady vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 13…Recorded his first career pass deflection vs. Green Bay, Sept. 27…Recorded a solo tackle/strip sack of QB Matt Ryan at Atlanta, Dec. 6…Turned in third sack of 2020 and second takedown in December, taking down QB Patrick Mahomes for an eight-yard loss vs. Kansas City, Dec. 20…Posted career-high 2.0 sacks in regular season finale at Carolina, 1/3/21. 2019 – Played in eight regular season contests and a postseason game and posted ten tackles (seven solo) and a sack for nine-yard loss…Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 6, dropped QB Jameis Winston…Finished with four tackles (one solo) vs. Indianapolis, Dec. 16.
COLLEGE – Three-year starter at defensive end for Wyoming and two-time All-Mountain West selection…Appeared in 42 games with 24 starts over his four-year career, totaling 172 tackles (95 solo), 17.5 sacks, 35.5 stops for loss, three interceptions, six passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery...As senior, earned second-team All-MWC (coaches and media), finished with 40 tackles (28 solo), three sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and one interception returned 61 yards for a TD at Hawaii…As a junior, was first-team All-MWC, playing in 13 games and recording 77 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 16 stops for loss, two forced fumbles, a 58-yard fumble recovery/return for a touchdown, one safety and two interceptions…Graduated with a bachelor's degree in social science.
PERSONAL – Led Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) HS to a 14-1 record and the 2014 California Section Championship as a LB…Led team in total tackles (172), sacks (15.0) and stops for losses (34.0). Also intercepted two passes, recovered one fumble and forced a fumble. Returned one of his picks for a TD…Carl Allen Granderson was born December 18, 1996 in Sacramento, Calif.
