NFL CAREER â Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming in 2019, the seventh-year pro was a mainstay on the edge again for New Orleans in 2024, starting all 17 contests and racking up 61 tackles (36 solo), 5.5 sacks, nine stops for loss, one forced fumble and a career-high four pass breakups. Granderson has shown persistence throughout his NFL career, playing in 88 games with 41 starts, racking up 240 tackles (139 solo), 28.5 sacks, six pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in his first five seasons. His development has been key for the Black and Gold, leading New Orleans to sign him to a four-year contract extension at the start of the 2023 season. Granderson looks to continue to be a force on the edge in 2025.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS â 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.
2024 â Started all 17 games at RDE, also contributing on special teams, producing 61 tackles (36 solo), 5.5 sacks, nine stops for loss, a forced fumble and a career-best four pass breakupsâŠVs. Carolina, Sept. 8, made three solo stops in opening winâŠAt Dallas, Sept. 15, racked up five tackles, 1.5 sacks and a stop for lossâŠHad 1.5 sacks for the second straight contest as part of a day where he finished with five stops (four solo), two tackles for loss and a forced fumble vs Philadelphia, Sept. 22âŠAt Kansas City, Oct. 7, finished with a season-high seven stops (two solo)âŠVs. Denver, Oct. 17, added three solo stops and a tackle for lossâŠAt Carolina, Nov. 3, posted four tackles, a half sack, and a stop for lossâŠAdded two pass breakups in win vs Atlanta, Nov. 10âŠVs. Cleveland, Nov 17, racked up four stops (three solo), one sack for loss of 11 yards and two tackles for lossâŠRecorded four tackles, a season-best three quarterback hurries and a pass breakup in win at New York Giants, Dec. 8âŠVs. Washington, Dec. 15, added six tackles (three solo), one sack and one stop for loss. 2023 â Started all 17 games at RDE, while also contributing on special teams, recording career-high 78 tackles (44 solo), 14 stops for loss, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and a team-leading 8.5 sacksâŠVs. Tennessee, Sept. 10, recorded three tackles (one solo), 1.5 sacks, a stop for loss, and four QB hurriesâŠAt Carolina, Sept. 18, recorded two solo tackles and a sack/stop for loss/forced fumbleâŠAt 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 yardsâŠAt Houston, Oct. 15, recorded six tackles, two stops for loss, and a sack/QB hitâŠVs. Jacksonville, Oct. 19, recorded six tackles (tied career-high with five solo stops), one stop for loss, and recovered his first fumble of the seasonâŠAt Indianapolis, Oct. 29, finished with five tackles (three solo), one stop for loss and one sackâŠVs. Chicago, Nov. 5, finished with six tackles (four solo) and one stop for lossâŠAt Atlanta, Nov. 26, had a career-high/team-best ten tacklesâŠVs. Detroit, Dec. 3, recorded three tackles, two QB hits, and one pass breakupâŠVs. Carolina, Dec. 10, Finished with five tackles (four solo) and a sack/stop for loss/QB hitâŠVs. N.Y. Giants, Dec. 17, recorded three tackles (two solo), and a sack/stop for loss/QB hitâŠAt 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 careerâŠAt Tampa Bay, Dec. 31, finished with one tackleâŠVs. Atlanta, 1/7/24, finished with four tackles (three solo) with a stop for loss and a QB hit. 2022 â Played in 16 games with four starts at RDE, posting 53 tackles (30 solo), 5.5 sacks for a loss of 33.5 yards and one fumble recoveryâŠVs. L.A. Rams, Nov. 20, started and notched seven tackles, including a stop for loss, and 1.5 sacks for loss of 12.5 yardsâŠAt Tampa Bay, Dec. 5, posted four tackles (three solo) and first career fumble recoveryâŠVs. Atlanta, Dec. 18, recorded seven tackles with a half-sack/QB hitâŠAt Cleveland, Dec. 24, started and registered six tackles, including three stops for loss and a sackâŠAt Philadelphia, 1/1/23, started and posted two tackles and 1.5 sacks of 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 one stop for loss and two QB hits. 2021 â Appeared in 15 games with three starts, while contributing on special teams and finished with 24 tackles (11 solo), three sacks and an assisted special teams stopâŠAt Carolina, Sept. 19, made first NFL start at RDE and played on special teams. Recorded five tackles (two solo), and blocked a field goal attemptâŠAt Washington, Oct. 10, recorded one tackle/sack for a four-yard lossâŠVs. Buffalo, Nov. 25, started and finished with three tackles (two solo) and a sack of college teammate and Bills QB Josh AllenâŠAt N.Y. Jets, Dec. 12, recorded two solo tackles with a sack. 2020 â Appeared in 15 regular season games and both postseason contests and finished with 14 tackles (11 solo), five sacks for a 25-yard loss, one pass breakup and two forced fumblesâŠRecorded two solo tackles, first career forced fumble and a sack of Tom Brady vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 13âŠRecorded first career pass deflection vs. Green Bay, Sept. 27âŠRecorded a solo tackle/strip sack of Matt Ryan at Atlanta, Dec. 6âŠTurned in second takedown in December, taking down Patrick Mahomes for an eight-yard loss vs. Kansas City, Dec. 20âŠPosted career-high two sacks in regular season finale at Carolina, 1/3/21. 2019 â Played in eight regular season contests and a postseason game and posted ten tackles (seven solo) and a sack for nine-yard lossâŠVs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 6, dropped Jameis Winston.
COLLEGE â Three-year starter at DE for Wyoming and two-time All-Mountain West Conference selectionâŠAppeared 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 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery...As a 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 HawaiiâŠAs 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 interceptionsâŠGraduated with a bachelor's degree in social science.
PERSONAL â Led Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) HS to a 14-1 record and the 2014 California Section Championship as a LBâŠLed 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 TDâŠIn April, 2024 he, Chris Olave and Alontae Taylor visited with students at Alice Harte Charter ahead of standardized testing weekâŠIn April, 2024, he and two teammates joined residents at the Hollygrove Senior center for a casino style fun dayâŠAt his back-to-school shoe drive in Sept., 2024, Granderson partnered with Foot Locker to donate 150 pairs of sneakers to local youthâŠCarl Allen Granderson was born December 18, 1996 in Sacramento, Calif.