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Let’s celebrate Groundhog Day by rewinding the 2020 NFL draft. ESPN’s NFL Nation reporters shared a re-draft of last year’s event with a fresh perspective on every pick in the first two rounds, with plenty of changes thanks to the value of hindsight.
That means Cesar Ruiz didn’t land with the New Orleans Saints, which makes sense. The rookie guard couldn’t win the starting job from journeyman backup Nick Easton, who ended the year on injured reserve after a series of concussions. If Easton remained healthy, Ruiz probably doesn’t see the field much at all. And if the Saints didn’t draft Ruiz, they likely keep Larry Warford, a three-time Pro Bowl alternate.
Instead, Ruiz wasn’t picked until late in the second round — by the Miami Dolphins, who owned New Orleans’ second-round pick at No. 59 owing to a trade (which brought Erik McCoy to the Saints in 2019). And the Saints ended up picking another prospect in free-fall: Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Jeff Okudah, the real-life third overall pick by the Detroit Lions. Here’s what ESPN’s Mike Triplett wrote of the change:
“I considered some guys who had better rookie years. But Okudah has fallen far enough after battling inconsistency, injury and what he called “dysfunction” in Detroit. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder was the No. 3 pick for a reason. He has outstanding traits that could be maximized in Dennis Allen’s scheme, and he could be a long-term successor to Janoris Jenkins.”
Cornerback could be a position the Saints target this offseason; Jenkins might be a salary cap casualty, as could veteran backup Patrick Robinson, and Marshon Lattimore is entering the final year of his rookie contract with an expensive $10 million cap hit. Versatile corner/safety hybrid P.J. Williams is a free agent. The position is probably going to look different very soon, and having a young, developmental prospect like Okudah as an understudy would be nice.
Instead, the Saints have Ruiz, who should return to his natural center position in 2021 with the benefits of a full offseason. His struggles were due to an abbreviated summer schedule because of COVID-19 adaptations and, frankly, not being suited as well to guard as working the middle of the line. McCoy has played well but could be even more of an asset from the right guard spot. It’s just one more question the Saints have to answer this year.
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