Saints: 3 offensive tackles to sign to fill in for Terron Armstead

2. Russell Okung

Russell Okung has bounced from team to team in the past few seasons, but he’s got 11 years of pro experience to bolster any offensive line.

Yes, he’s nearing the ripe old age of 33, but Okung has learned and fit into a great number of offensive schemes in the past. Fitting into the Saints’ scheme shouldn’t be a problem.

What could be a problem, though, is paying him. After being released by the Carolina Panthers, Okung was in no hurry to pen a contract with another team and said he was waiting for a “satisfactory offer.” That was back in July, and no teams took the bait then.

Now, with injuries looming in many teams’ offensive lines, Okung could reap some lucrative rewards.

The Saints would really have to finesse their cap space, but if New Orleans and Okung could agree on a deal, bringing him on would give the Saints one of their most threatening O-lines yet.

A first-round pick in 2010, Okung has played left tackle for the Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers, and Panthers, though injuries caused him to miss many games in the last two seasons.

Yet Okung still earned an overall PFF grade of 73.0 in 2020, and he would provide much-needed pass protection for Winston and his turnover-prone playing style.

Okung is as elite a free agent as they come, but he knows his worth. New Orleans better start the sweet-talking now.