With several top guards already gone, here's the options left for the Saints to bolster their offensive line.
The New Orleans Saints have been more active in free agency than some of the annual salary cap naysayers expected.
However, the Saints still approache the second week of free agency with several glaring needs. Top among them is their interior offensive line.
New Orleans has brought back reserve center/guard Will Clapp, who played for the team from 2018 to 2021. The Saints have also let G Lucas Patrick, G/T Oli Udoh, T Justin Herron, C/G Shane Lemieux, and G/T Landon Young hit the market without a contract offer.
It's possible that New Orleans re-signs one or more of those linemen from last year. Even if they do, the Saints still need a major upgrade at the position from last year's product. Patrick was the most serviceable of that group and started 10 games in his first year with New Orleans last season.
Most expected the Saints to target Mekhi Becton in free agency. A five-year pro, Becton had the best year of his career under new Saints head coach Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator in Philadelphia last season.
Becton is no longer an option. He was signed by the Chargers on a two-year deal late Friday. Becton joins Will Fries, James Daniels, Alex Cappa, Kevin Zeitler, Laken Tomlinson, Robert Jones, Kendrick Green, and Nate Herbig as top-tier interior linemen signed by other teams in free agency.
So who is left? The Saints have a gaping hole at left guard, with the maddeningly erratic (at best) Cesar Ruiz at right guard. Here are the free agency options still available.
*age and previous team in parenthesis
• Teven Jenkins (27 - Bears)
• Brandon Scherff (33 - Jaguars)
• Shaq Mason (32 - Texans)
• Cody Whitehair (33 - Raiders)
• Dalton Risner (30 - Vikings)
• Liam Eichenberg (27 - Dolphins)
• Aaron Stinnie (31 - Giants)
• Will Hernandez (29 - Cardinals)
• Mark Glowinski (33 - Colts)
• Max Sharping (28 - Steelers)
All of these players have a good bit of starting experience in the NFL, as does Lucas Patrick. Jenkins is perhaps the most accomplished of those available, but several of these players are still quality options. It's imperative that the Saints do something to solidify this position, and do so quickly.
There's also a strong chance that New Orleans uses a high draft choice at this position. LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell is a sure top-10 pick. Campbell played tackle in college, but some scouts have projected a potential move to guard.
Alabama's Tyler Booker is the top-rated guard in the draft. He'll likely be a first-round choice, but perhaps a bit of a reach where the Saints pick at number 9. Donovan Jackson of Ohio State, Wyatt Milum of West Virginia, and the Georgia of Tate Rutledge and Dylan Fairchild are probable high Day 2 picks, with one or two perhaps slipping into the first round.
Any of those collegiate talents are potential Day 1 starters. However, one doesn't need to look further back than last year to see an already underwhelming New Orleans offensive line get decimated by injuries.
The Saints may be targeting an offensive guard early in the draft. They would also be smart to target at least one quality starter in free agency for a position that was absolutely putrid last season.
