Questions at offensive tackle labeled Saints’ biggest summer storyline

Questions at offensive tackle are the Saints’ biggest storyline after minicamp. Are Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning the answer?

Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler projected each team’s biggest storyline walking out of minicamps. The New Orleans Saints biggest storyline heading into training camp is questions of who will start at offensive tackle on each side. Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning are the leading contenders, but both are changing positions.

The Saints start training camp on July 24, and players will put on pads a few days later. Organized team activities, minicamp, and training camp practices before the pads are strapped on are valuable, but you can not get a full evaluation of an offensive lineman until they put on their pads. This is particularly true for Fuaga because he’s a rookie.

There is arguably no more impactful unknown around the Saints in this season. The offensive line is imperative to success in Klint Kubiak’s offense. Kubiak envisions a run first offense. In order to do that successfully, the Saints offensive line must be better than last year.

No quarterback wants to deal with defenders in the backfield, but Derek Carr didn’t show the ability to navigate through that traffic. The odds are it’ll be similar this year. Rather than ask Carr to be better in this aspect, the Saints should aim to minimize this issue.

The questions are different for Penning and Fuaga. The latter will get the benefit of the doubt as a rookie. Penning may be playing for his last opportunity to start on the outside for the Saints. Also, Fuaga can always slide to his natural position if if Penning struggles at right tackle. If all goes as planned these two former first-round draft picks will be the future of the position. It’s on them to answer that question.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Justin Herron is the Saints Player of Day 77

Countdown to Kickoff: Justin Herron is the New Orleans Saints Player of Day 77. Can the veteran carve out a role at offensive tackle in 2024?

Day 77 of our countdown to the New Orleans Saints season opener lands at the offensive tackle position with newly-acquired Justin Herron, who currently owns the No. 77 jersey. Herron, a former Wake Forest standout, spent his first four years with the New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders playing a total of 35 games in his NFL career.

Before we get into more detail on Herron and his potential role with the Saints in 2024, let’s make sure to highlight him as our Saints Player of the Day.

  • Name (Age): Justin Herron (28)
  • Position: Offensive tackle
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 290 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 3.99
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $985,000
  • College: Wake Forest
  • Drafted: Round 6, Pick 195 in 2020 (New England Patriots)
  • NFL experience: 5 years

Herron is one of the many offensive linemen acquired in free agency by the Saints, a group that was brought in to compete for starting roles or to provide depth along the line. Herron, an offensive tackle by stature, has been provided all the opportunity in the world by joining the Saints.

Before the addition of Taliese Fuaga, the team had two huge voids on both ends of the line. Right now, former first-round pick Trevor Penning has the inside track on the right side of the line but by no means has he solidified the job. Penning struggled mightily in the beginning of last season leading to his benching early on. Herron could move Penning off his spot come training camp, however there will be competition for it. Free agent acquisition Oli Udoh, former sixth-round pick Landon Young and this year’s seventh rounder Josiah Ezirim will be in the mix for that job as well. It’s likely that the team will carry nine offensive linemen come September which could also allow Herron to make the team as a depth player behind the starting five.

All in all, this offensive tackle race is one of, if not the most intriguing on the team. It will ultimately come down to who can maintain consistency throughout camp and even into the start of the regular season. We’ll see how this all plays out very shortly as training camp starts later in July.

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Saints linked to big-time offensive lineman in 2025 mock draft

The Saints were linked to a big-time offensive lineman in Touchdown Wire’s latest 2025 mock draft. Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. would be a good get:

The 2025 NFL draft is a long ways away, so it’s better to use mock drafts like this one from Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar as advanced scouting reports on players to watch during the 2024 college football season. And this time Farrar has the Saints picking Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr.

A former five-star recruit with the rare combination of size and athleticism pro scouts look for, Banks has been exceptional through two years of play. He’s lined up exclusively at left tackle and allowed just three sacks on 1,006 snaps in pass protection per Pro Football Focus charting. After being selected for the All-Big 12 second team in 2022, he was promoted to the conference’s first team in 2023.

Here’s why Farrar sees him as such a great fit with New Orleans:

Back in Sean Payton’s salad days, the Saints were all about getting the best guards possible to assist Drew Brees in throwing the ball in the ways that were best for him. Now, Dennis Allen’s crew is just looking for a front five that works. The selection of Oregon State tackle Taliese Fuaga with the 24th overall pick in the 2024 draft helps, but there’s so much that’s still undefined along the line. Kelvin Banks Jr. would be a nice fit in New Orleans because he can play both guard and tackle, and he does it all with serious attitude. Last season for the Longhorns at left tackle, Banks allowed one sack and 12 total pressures in 550 pass-blocking snaps, and when it was time to hit the second level, Banks was looking to HUNT opponents.

It’s tough to fault that logic. The Saints need to keep pouring resources into their offensive line until it isn’t a problem anymore. If they can’t get it right, it won’t matter who the quarterback is or which weapons he can throw to, or whether it’s Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, or someone else leading the backfield next year. Drafting Fuaga was a good start. If things don’t work out with Trevor Penning switching to right tackle, a first-round left tackle like Banks could allow Fuaga to move back to his college position. But if Penning does flourish in his new role, either Banks or Fuaga could move inside to guard. Another talent injection could be just what this unit needs.

Still, it’s a problem for another day (if not another year). Right now the Saints are betting on Fuaga and Penning bookending the line while Nick Saldiveri steps into the lineup at left guard, with Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz returning from last year’s team. Hopefully that combination works well and wins them enough games to where they can look to address another position of need in 2025.

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Dennis Allen shares grim update on former All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramczyk

Dennis Allen shared a grim update on former All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramczyk. His injured knee hasn’t progressed, and ‘We don’t have a timeline’ for his return

Things aren’t looking good for Ryan Ramczyk. The New Orleans Saints’ former All-Pro right tackle was an excused absence from minicamp practice on Tuesday, and head coach Dennis Allen said he’s the only injured player not currently with the team.

“I think the plan all along is for him to have been back home, resting, doing his rehab plan there,” Allen said. “We’ve got a plan for him. Certainly we don’t have to make any decisions now, but I haven’t seen the progress that I was hoping to see. And so, yeah, we’ve got him at home doing his rehab there.”

But what progress has Ramczyk shown? When asked, Allen was quick to point out he had not seen either positive steps forward or negative setbacks. Things have not changed since Ramczyk was last evaluated in March.

“I would say it’s not trending in either direction right now, in terms of the progress. So I wouldn’t say there’s been much change since the last time we discussed it,” Allen continued. When asked about Ramczyk’s timeline for recovery and return to the field, he replied “We don’t have a timeline.”

It isn’t too unusual for a player to rehab an injury away from the team, but it stands out that Ramczyk is the only Saints player dealing with an injury away from the facility. Guys like Chase Young (who had neck surgery in March) and Nephi Sewell (who injured his knee in late December) have been in Metairie receiving treatment from team doctors.

That backs up the initial expectation — that Ramczyk is not expected to play this year. This was characterized as a career-threatening injury, and while it’s possible a year away from football could be good for him, it’s likelier that he’s already taken his last snap in a Saints uniform. We’ll just have to wait and see. But this is why the Saints invested so many resources in their offensive line by hiring a new coaching staff, drafting Taliese Fuaga, and cross-training Trevor Penning at right tackle. You have to hope Ramczyk can return some day. It just isn’t something that can be counted on.

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B/R says the Saints are a perfect fit for David Bakhtiari

Bleacher Report says the Saints and David Bakhitari could be a perfect fit as a mentor for their two young offensive tackles:

Former Green Bay Packers All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari remains on the free agent market, and Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox linked Bakhtiari to the New Orleans Saints in what he says would be a perfect marriage. Bakhtiari was once a consistent member of the All-Pro team year in and year out. He was the only offensive tackle to make All-Pro every year from 2016 to 2020.

Unfortunately, injuries derailed what once appeared to be a promising Hall of Fame career. The Saints have seen that story before. A torn ACL on Dec. 27, 2020 left a permanent impact on Bakhtiari’s left knee and he has only played 13 regular season games in three years since. The Saints’ situation at offensive tackle is fluid, specifically at left tackle. Rookie Taliese Fuaga is currently running with the starters at that position, and Trevor Penning is manning the starting right tackle spot.

That situation is in flux, and adding Bakhtiari at left tackle could bring a veteran presence that would benefit either of the young players. He would be a perfect insurance plan in case Penning has to move back to left tackle and doesn’t take a step up from last year. Bakhtiari could also start the year in case Fuaga still needs to get acclimated to his new position at the beginning of the year. One complication? His injury history and public criticism of artificial turf surfaces, which he’d be seeing a lot of inside the Caesars Superdome. That might be a turnoff during any talks about bringing him to New Orleans.

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Countdown to Kickoff, Day 97: Khristian Boyd is the Saints Player of the Day

Khristian Boyd is the New Orleans Saints Player of Day 97 as we count down to the 2024 kickoff. The rookie defensive tackle has a great opportunity:

Khristian Boyd is your New Orleans Saints Player of Day 97 as we count down to kickoff for the 2024 season. The rookie defensive tackle has a great opportunity in front of him, but before we get to that, let’s get to know him a little better:

  • Name (Age): Khristian Boyd (24)
  • Position: Defensive tackle
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 320 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 4.63
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $839,707
  • College: Northern Iowa
  • Drafted: 199th overall in 2024 (New Orleans Saints)
  • NFL experience: Rookie

Boyd is making a big leap from UNI to the NFL, just like his former teammate Trevor Penning has experienced on the other side of the ball. But expectations are wildly different for him as a sixth-round pick compared to Penning as a former first rounder. All Boyd needs to focus on in 2024 is playing his role well as a run-stopper in relief of Khalen Saunders.

But what if there’s more in store for him? The Saints were too soft in the middle of Dennis Allen’s defense last season, allowing the 11th-most rushing yards per game and twice giving up 200-plus yards on the ground in divisional matchups (Week 12 to the Atlanta Falcons, Week 14 to the Carolina Panthers). The veteran players the Saints have at defensive tackle have not stopped the run well enough, so maybe Boyd can climb the depth chart.

Still, we shouldn’t put too high of expectations on the rookie. He fell so far in the draft for good reasons and we’ve seen how challenging the jump from the Missouri Valley Conference to the NFL can be with Penning. Saddling Boyd with expectations that are too heavy is doing him a disservice. For now, we’ll be happy to see how he performs at training camp and take it for there.

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PFF ranks the Saints’ roster among NFL’s bottom-10 depth charts

Pro Football Focus ranked the New Orleans Saints’ roster among the NFL’s bottom-10 teams. The Saints have a lot of work to do in changing that perception:

Is there a 9-win team drawing more criticism than the New Orleans Saints are right now? Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 rosters from best to worst, and the Saints didn’t just fall inside the back half of the league — they were all the way down at No. 24, between the 8-win Las Vegas Raiders and 6-win Tennessee Titans. That suggests they were less than impressed by the Derek Carr-led Saints.

PFF analysts Jim Wyman and Dalton Wasserman identified the Saints’ offensive line as their biggest vulnerability, expressing pessimism that 2021 first-round pick Trevor Penning can be relied on even after moving to right tackle. Here’s why they’re taking the under on 7.5 wins for the Saints in 2024:

New Orleans’ struggles in the trenches make it very difficult to project a high ceiling for the team. While they are talented at the skill positions, especially in the secondary, their lack of pass rush and pass protection could create the same inconsistency that hurt them last season. They won nine games in 2023, yet it’s difficult to find areas where they have improved heading into 2024.

It’s tough to argue with that assessment. On paper, the Saints’ pass rush should be mightily improved after signing Chase Young; but his long recovery from offseason neck surgery and the news of a torn Achilles for backup defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon sullied that outlook.

And the offensive line is what everything hinges on for the other side of the ball. Outside of Penning, the Saints are banking on rookie first-round pick Taliese Fuaga playing left tackle at a high level while second-year pro Nick Saldiveri earns the starting job next to him at left guard; both players lined up at right tackle in college, so there’s a lot of projection in that plan. The only starters returning from last year are Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy and right guard Cesar Ruiz.

At least the Saints have a weak strength of schedule that should tee them up for some winnable games. But that was the case last year. We need to see Dennis Allen’s team stack up wins and prove their doubters wrong in order to believe they can do it. They’ve run out of goodwill.

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Saints’ offensive line experiencing a youth movement in 2024

The New Orleans Saints new scheme prioritizes offensive line’s athleticism. This shift coincides with a drop in the unit’s average age:

The New Orleans Saints offensive line is going through a youth movement. By their scheme, it is necessary. Trevor Penning highlighted Klint Kubiak’s wide zone scheme for utilizing the athleticism of the offensive line. That change of direction has also coincided with the unit getting much younger. Not every change can be tied scheme, but it does feel like an intentional shift.

Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz are the only returning starters from last season. Trevor Penning is excluded because he spent most of the season on the bench. The offensive line’s average age drops from 28.2 to 24.6 years old. Even if Shane Lemieux starts at left guard ahead of Nick Saldiveri, the average age only rises to 25.2, which would still be a 3-year drop from last year’s average age.

James Hurst was the oldest player on the line last year, and he simply didn’t fit the new offensive scheme Kubiak is installing. He was the one player who needed to be replaced. New Orleans has always valued athleticism, so the pieces were already there. Of the new starters, first round pick Taliese Fuaga is the only one who wasn’t on the roster in 2023. His experience in a similar scheme, however, may provide one of the smoother transitions to Kubiak’s offense.

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Trevor Penning describes flip to right tackle as a fresh start

Trevor Penning described his move to right tackle as a fresh start. Spending time training at both positions has eased his transition:

One of the biggest ongoing stories from rookie minicamp and organized team activities is Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning swapping positions. The Saints first round pick is a career right tackle who has been moved to left tackle this season and vice versa for Penning. The decision has been framed as gathering information, but it feels like a concrete decision for Penning.

Penning described the move as a fresh start when speaking with local media on Tuesday: “It’s a fresh start. It’s a whole new offense, new side of the line. Kind of flushed the past almost, learned from the past, move on. That’s kind of what I’ve gotten out of it. Fresh start, yeah.”

This is how offensive line coach John Benton described the move almost verbatim, having said it was always the plan. Penning added that an offseason conversation with Dennis Allen laid out the vision for his path forward in March. If he takes advantage of this fresh start, Penning is in line to be the team’s next starting right tackle.

“It’s not as much as you would probably think. Because the whole offseason we train, when I’m down in Frisco with Duke Manyweather, we train both sides. So it’s already kind of, I’ve been there (at right tackle) already. We work on that down there fifty-fifty. So it’s not too much of a change.”

It’s a move Penning has prepared for this offseason. That offseason training has made the transition during OTAs more seamless. Outside of his own transition, Penning praised the new scheme for leaning into the offensive line’s athleticism. Now that he’s healthy and getting a full offseason’s worth of work in, he’s eager to show what he’s learned.

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Bleacher Report says the Saints should bring in an old division rival

Bleacher Report says the Saints should bring in an old division rival as the finishing touch on their 2024 offseason:

There is still time for the New Orleans Saints to put the finishing touches on their roster for the 2024 season, and Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder has an idea for what they should do next.

Holder listed one more move each team should make before training camp starts in late July. For the Saints, that meant signing an old division rival: Tampa Bay Buccaneers left tackle Donovan Smith, most recently with the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s why:

While New Orleans used a first-round pick on Taliese Fuaga to avoid starting Trevor Penning at left tackle again, Fuaga also has concerns in pass protection. Meanwhile, Derek Carr notoriously struggles under pressure, so the Saints will want to make sure Carr is well-protected to have a chance at winning the NFC South.

Worst case, Fuaga and Penning will have another veteran mentor if the team brings in Smith, who should know the division well after spending the first eight years of his career in Tampa Bay.

Depending on where you look, the Saints are under the salary cap by about $5.7 million. Smith signed with the Chiefs last year on a one-year, $3 million contract with just $1.98 million guaranteed. So New Orleans could afford him if they’re interested. Their safety net behind Fuaga and Penning consists of career backups and journeymen like Landon Young (7 starts), Olisaemeka Udoh (18 starts), and Justin Herron (11 starts). Smith has started 136 games in the NFL and won two Super Bowl rings, so his experience alone would be valuable.

But as Holder alluded to, Smith has a history in the NFC South. He was someone that Cameron Jordan picked on, both on and off the field, so at least those two would have to settle some differences. Still, the NFL is a business, and it’s not like Jordan hasn’t shared the locker room with former foes before.

All that aside, this could be a good move if Smith isn’t insistent on starting while earning an appropriate salary. New Orleans could certainly use help given all the uncertainties surrounding Penning and Fuaga as they each learn a new position on the right and left sides, respectively. There are many weeks to go before the team convenes for training camp. We’ll just have to wait and see how they address the worrisome depth at offensive tackle, if at all.

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