5 positions the Saints desperately need to address this offseason

2. Offensive Guard

Andrus Peat and Cesar Ruiz shouldn’t be the answer at the two guard spots moving forward. I get that the Saints paid Peat a lot of money, so starting him at left guard had to happen. Ruiz, in his second year, has been very hit and miss at right guard, so looking to replace him wouldn’t be a bad idea by any means.

Signing a guard in free agency won’t come cheap and that’s why NOLA might have to focus on this area in the draft. Maybe it’s not a first-round need due to the No. 1 position on this list but the Saints need to be adding a guard no later than the fourth round.

It’ll be hard for whoever is taking snaps at quarterback to get much of anything done if the interior line doesn’t play well. Ruiz has the rest of the season to show what he can do at right guard and if he doesn’t finish the season on a high note, New Orleans shouldn’t hesitate to move on from him this offseason.

The Saints made a mistake extending Peat and unfortunately, he’s under contract through 2024 but there is an out on his deal after the 2022 season. They could still be eyeing his eventual replacement.