The New Orleans Saints start their season in 77 days against the Arizona Cardinals. We continue our countdown to kickoff with our player of the day, Dillon Radunz.
New Orleans signed Radunz to an one-year contract this offseason. Radunz spent the previous four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. This will be his first season away from the team that drafted him, but it isn't going how many expected.
Dillon Radunz role with the Saints has shifted
There was an expectation with the Radunz signing that he would likely be the starting left guard for the Saints, or at least compete for the starting role. We haven't made it to training camp yet, but all signs point to this not being the case.
New Orleans has completely shifted it's offensive line this offseason. Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz are the only starters returning at their same position. Taliese Fuaga will remain a starter but he has moved from left tackle to right tackle.
Drafting left tackle, Kelvin Banks Jr., is the catalyst for the change and may have pushed Radunz out of the starting rotation. Picking Banks led to Fuaga's position change and Trevor Penning moving to left guard. Kellen Moore seems set with that lineup along the offensive line, for now.
Trevor Penning's training camp performance is the deciding factor
Penning has been the only player lining up at left guard with the first team while media is present. The Saints haven't put pads on yet, however. You can't truly judge an offensive lineman without pads. When training camp rolls around in late-July, Penning will have to prove he deserves the starting left guard job.
Radunz has experience at guard. Penning does not. That may not be enough to create a competition at the start of training camp, but it will be enough if Penning struggles to grasp his new position.
If Penning looks good, Radunz will be relegated to being a swing offensive lineman. He would fit well in that role, seeing that Radunz has played both tackle and guard. He'll be a much more competent backup than the players New Orleans rolled out there last season. If injuries occur, the Saints are in much better hands with Radunz. It isn't the role many expected for him, but he'll still be a valuable asset in 2025.
