Delvin Breaux experienced a roller-coaster ride over the course of the 12 months ranging from September 2015 to September 2016. Breaux was a little known free agent cornerback who quietly signed with the New Orleans Saints after stints in the Arena Football League and Canadian Football League. Our very own ‘Quickdrawdoc’ snagged an interview with him in April of 2015, but no one would have guessed that Delvin would end up being the best CB on the roster later that year. Fast-forward to 2016, week 1 - Breaux goes down with a fractured fibula, the second Saints player to do so within a calendar month.
As high as Breaux rose up the depth chart and in the hearts of Who Dat Nation, he now found himself at the end of the line, sitting on the trainers table. Breaux was not moved to injured reserve because per NFL rules, only one player can be re-activated from the designation in one season and Sheldon Rankins was clearly the player who would receive this benefit.
Breaux would go on to appear in five other games after returning from injury, but it was evident that he had not fully recovered. Delvin is a rhythym player, meaning he sometimes takes a while to get into the flow of the game. The best evidence was his mostly good, but sometimes frustrating play in 2015.
His rookie NFL season got off to a rocky start as he adjusted to the game. There were issues with using his hands to much and sometimes the speed of the game overwhelmed him. But 2016 was going to be magical, Breaux would be the ‘alpha’ of a talented young cornerback group, lead by DB Coach Aaron Glenn. Unfortunately, injuries ravaged the position from camp through week 16 and Breaux was the biggest casualty. His season concluded on IR with appearances in 6 games and these statistical tallies: 21 total tackles, 18 solo, and 3 assisted and pass defended.
It is my personal opinion that Delvin Breaux should have been placed on the shelf (IR’d) until 2017 and allowed to fully recover from his major leg injury. Hopefully there is not a setback during his rehabilitation and ‘Chip’ returns to be the leader at CB!