Report: Saints to Visit with Pro Bowl G Trai Turner
NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports that the New Orleans Saints are meeting with former Pro Bowl G Trai Turner on Monday. Turner is a graduate of St. Augustine High School in New Orleans and played collegiately at LSU.
A third-round choice by the Carolina Panthers in the 2014 NFL Draft, Turner has played nine seasons. His first six years were with the Panthers, where he earned five consecutive Pro Bowl trips from 2015 to 2019. Since 2020, Turner has spent one year each with the Chargers, Steelers, and last year with Washington.
Turner, 30, has missed just 20 games over a nine-year career. Seven of those came in 2020 with the Chargers. He's started 118 of his 126 game appearances, predominantly at right guard.
The 6'3" and 315-Lb. Turner is an outstanding run blocker and agile enough to be solid in pass protection. If signed, he'll compete for an interior line spot with the Saints that includes Cesar Ruiz, Andrus Peat, Calvin Throckmorton, James Hurst, and rookie Nick Saldiveri.
New Orleans has an open roster spot after last week's release of C/G Billy Price. Turner could add skilled depth and experience to an offensive line that has been battered by injuries in recent years.
Nov 17, 2016; Carolina Panthers guard Trai Turner (70) blocks against the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The often injured Peat has missed 40 games over his eight-year career, including 19 contests the last two seasons. Ruiz is coming off a foot injury that prematurely ended his 2022 campaign. Throckmorton has been a solid, but limited, fill-in at both guard spots. Saldiveri will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a leg injury. Hurst is a reliable veteran, but is also used at tackle in the event of injury to Ryan Ramczyk or Trevor Penning.
The Saints ranked 19th in total offense last season, including 19th in rushing production. Their 4.3 average per carry and 12 rushing touchdowns both ranked 22nd in the league, while New Orleans quarterbacks were sacked 38 times.
