The New Orleans Saints quietly made one of the better picks of the first round when they selected former Michigan center Cesar Ruiz with the 24th overall selection in the 2020 NFL draft.
It wasn’t the sexiest of picks, but it was a good one nonetheless.
Ruiz was the definition of consistency at Michigan where he manned the pivot for all 26 games over his past two seasons. He leaves Ann Arbor as a two-time All-Big Ten honoree, and a three-year letterman (2017-19).
Ruiz has been described as an exceptional leader by his teammates, and is well-liked by the coaching staff.
Ruiz also happens to be an incredibly consistent player on tape. Ruiz plays the game with a non-stop motor. His toughness really jumps off the screen as a run blocker. Ruiz does some of his best work in space, where his better-than-advertised athleticism allows him to make impressive plays at the second level. If there’s one thing he can improve on at the next level, it’s how he handles power rushes. It was the bigger, powerful defensive linemen that gave him some issues in pass protection.
While Ruiz has played mostly center throughout his career, he also started five games at right guard as a freshman. That versatility may be key to figuring out where he fits in with the Saints O-line in 2020 and beyond, as the Saints already have an excellent center in Erik McCoy.
We’re not quite sure where Ruiz is going to play for the Saints, but whether it’s at center or guard, Ruiz has the goods to become an instant starter on their talented offensive line.
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