It’s been almost a year since they called his name on draft day, but it’s tough to get a read on what Trevor Penning brings to the New Orleans Saints. The former first-round draft pick began his rookie year with a torn ligament in one foot and ended it with a Lisfranc fracture in the other foot, limiting him to just six games and a single start to evaluate. That’s a really tough break for a player who needs reps to adjust to the NFL after dominating a lower level of competition in college.
But there were times when we saw what the Saints liked so much in Penning to pick him so highly in the 2023 draft. His tenacity as a blocker, his aggressive play style, and his rare blend of size and speed jumped out once he got on the field. We just need to see more from him in his second year with New Orleans. Let’s keep this series going and review his rookie year: