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The New Orleans Saints made their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by selecting Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz. Initially slotted to pick at No. 24 overall, the Saints stood pat despite media chatter speculating on their efforts to trade up the board grew as the day wore on.
Ruiz started at center for the Wolverines the last two years after playing right guard as a freshman back in 2017, and should slot back into that spot whenever Pro Bowl right guard Larry Warford moves on. Warford is entering the final year of his contract and has the second-highest salary cap hit on the team, so he may be a candidate to be traded so Ruiz can contribute right away.
It’s not the glamorous pick many Saints fans may have wanted, but it’s a smart investment. Ruiz should do a lot to solidify an offensive line that struggled to hold itself together down the stretch in 2019.