After Showing Interest Last Season, New Orleans Saints Could Bring Back This Free Agent For Offensive Line Competition
It is not a well-kept secret that the New Orleans Saints need to upgrade their offensive line. Most point specifically to the tackle position. Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk has knee issues that have limited his mobility and casts a huge question about his long-term future. Left tackle Trevor Penning was benched after six games last season and looks like a potential first-round bust.
New Orleans had equally troubling quality issues along the interior of their line. Right guard Cesar Ruiz regressed after finally having a breakout campaign in 2022. James Hurst had arguably his worst year as a pro. Andrus Peat wasn't available inside, since he'd replaced Penning. That left Max Garcia, a human turnstile, as the only fallback option. Despite those issues, rookie fourth-round pick Nick Saldiveri didn't even impress coaches enough to crack the lineup.
Most, myself included, thought that the Saints would address tackle with an early draft choice and bring in a guard via free agency. There are still several capable interior blockers available. Laken Tomlinson (age = 32), Connor Williams (26), Cody Whitehair (31), Kevin Zeitler (34), Mark Glowinski (31), Dalton Risner (28), Gabe Jackson (32), and Halapoulivaati Vaitai (30) have all been capable NFL starters. Re-signing Peat is also a possibility. He can play guard or tackle and will count $13 million against the salary cap whether he's on the team or not.
Another option for the Saints would be to re-sign a player who was on their roster last year but didn't play a down.
Trai Turner, G
Carolina Panthers guard Trai Turner (70) blocks against the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY
Turner, who turns 31 in July, was signed by the Saints at the start of training camp last offseason. He was thought as possible competition for Hurst and Peat inside. Unfortunately, Turner suffered a torn quad in practice three days after joining the team and was lost for the season.
A native of New Orleans and St. Augustine High School, Turner also went on to star at LSU. The Carolina Panthers selected him in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He'd be an immediate starter at right guard for the Panthers, earning a spot on the 2014 All-Rookie Team.
Flipping to left guard in 2015, Turner was an anchor for Carolina's offensive line in all six of his years with the team. Turner earned five straight Pro Bowls between 2015 and 2019. Over that span, he was recognized as one of the league's finest interior pass blockers.
The Panthers traded Turner to the Los Angeles Chargers in the offseason of 2020 in exchange for OT Russell Okung. He'd start the first nine games of the year at right guard, but was released before the end of the campaign.
Washington guard Trai Turner (53) blocks against the Philadelphia Eagles. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Turner was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers just prior to the start of 2021 training camp. He'd start all 17 contests for the Steelers that season before hitting free agency again. This time, Turner was inked by Washington, where he'd open the year as the starter at right guard. He was benched for a stretch at mid-season, but regained his starting job and wound up starting 12 of 16 game appearances.
In his prime, Turner was an excellent pass protector and well above average as a run blocker. His best days are behind him, but the Saints obviously saw something in him that they liked when they signed him last year.
Trai Turner was signed by New Orleans last year to a deal that counted just $653,000 against their salary cap. If healthy and agreeable to a similar deal, Turner would provide an experienced and inexpensive possibility to the interior of the New Orleans offensive line.
