Countdown to Kickoff: Nick Saldiveri is the Saints Player of Day 64

Saldiveri is in the mix for playing time on the offensive line as he enters his third season

There are 64 days remaining before the New Orleans Saints 2025 regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. New Orleans opens this, their 59th NFL season, at home, and with a new head coach in Kellen Moore. Offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri wears number 64 for the Saints currently. Saldiveri is entering his third year with the team and is only the 10th player in franchise history to wear 64. He is our Saints Player of the Day.

• Name (age): Nicholas Saldiveri (24)
• Hometown: Monroe, N.C.
• Position: Offensive line
• Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 316 pounds
• College: Old Dominion Monarchs
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.47
• Drafted: Round 4, 103 overall in 2023 (New Orleans Saints)
• NFL experience: 2 years
• 2025 salary cap hit: $1,240,570

At Parkwood High School in North Carolina, Saldiveri starred in football despite not picking up the sport until middle school. He was also a standout in the discus and shot put on the track team as well as a letter winner for basketball. Lightly recruited, Saldiveri would accept a scholarship offer to Old Dominion University in Virginia. He'd redshirt as a freshman in 2018 but earned a starting job the following year at right tackle. After Covid caused the Monarchs to cancel the 2020 campaign, Saldiveri started 24 of 25 contests through the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was mostly at right tackle, but also saw some time inside at guard, ending his collegiate career as a 2nd Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection.

New Orleans traded the 115th and 165th picks in the 2023 NFL draft to move up and select Saldiveri with the first pick of Day 3 that year. As a rookie, Saldiveri appeared sparingly in just four games as a reserve. He'd see more playing time last year on a Saints offensive line that was battered by injuries. In 2024, Saldiveri played 344 offensive snaps over 11 games while making six starts.

The Saints look to have a different offensive approach in 2025 under an entirely new coaching staff. Nick Saldiveri has played mostly at guard during his first two years but adds the versatility of his collegiate experience at tackle. Saldiveri will be in the mix for a roster spot in training camp, but will face some competition on what's expected to be an improved New Orleans line.