Tag: do-over

Saints and Ravens swap Cesar Ruiz for Patrick Queen in 2020 NFL draft do-over

Saints and Ravens swap Cesar Ruiz for Patrick Queen in 2020 NFL draft do-over

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It’s tough to argue with this one. Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling put together a re-draft of the 2020 NFL draft’s first round, and the gift of hindsight guided him to a different pick for the New Orleans Saints at No. 24. Instead of surprising everyone with the selection of Michigan center Cesar Ruiz, Easterling had the Saints choose LSU Tigers linebacker Patrick Queen. Ruiz, ironically, ended up with Queen’s real-life Baltimore Ravens.

That introduces quite a ripple effect. New Orleans was comfortable cutting three-time Pro Bowl alternate Larry Warford after picking Ruiz, who struggled in the move to right guard (Warford opted out of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and has yet to sign with a new team), and later traded for Kwon Alexander after their in-house options at linebacker didn’t meet expectations. Now they’re hoping Ruiz finds his footing in his second year while rookie linebacker Pete Werner settles into the defense.

If they had chosen Queen last year, it’s possible he would have enjoyed similar success to what he found with Baltimore, who picked him at No. 28. Queen racked up 106 tackles as a rookie (66 solo, 9 tackles for loss), also chipping in three sacks and 10 quarterback hits on passing downs. He intercepted a pass and recovered two fumbles, too, returning one of them for a defensive touchdown. That’s playmaking ability the Saints are still searching for.

Maybe Warford would have still opted out had the Saints not released him, which would have put either James Hurst or Nick Easton in his spot. Guard would be a need now (depending on how pessimistic any given Saints fan is feeling, it still might be), but that’s an easier spot to fill than linebacker. New Orleans has invested top-100 picks in the position twice in two years, hoping for either Werner or Zack Baun to cut the mustard. One of them should be competent, but just being capable is very different from being an impact defender like Queen.

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ESPN’s 2020 NFL draft do-over shakes up the Saints

The New Orleans Saints passed on C/G Cesar Ruiz to pick Ohio State Buckeyes CB Jeff Okudah in ESPN’s re-draft of the 2020 NFL draft.

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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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