NOLA Saints should re-sign Terron Armstead in the offseason
By Kristen Wong
The New Orleans Saints are legendary cap space wizards in the league, but they may face their most challenging task in extending one player’s contract.
Offensive tackle Terron Armstead has yet to be re-signed to the team, and he’s been a consistent stalwart on the O-line playing an incredibly important position.
His right-hand partner, Ryan Ramczyk, already got his lucrative deal this past offseason, when NOLA signed him to a five-year, $96 million contract.
Even Taysom Hill got his, a four-year $40 million extension with conditions that reveal just how well the Saints can tinker with cap space.
Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report recently revealed a list of which player each NFL team should re-sign in free agency this offseason. For the Saints, that player was Armstead:
"Per Over the Cap, the New Orleans Saints are $60.4 million over the cap threshold, so they would have to do some financial house cleaning to re-sign Terron Armstead…New Orleans should create cap space to retain a top tackle who’s barely over the age of 30 and coming off three consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns."
New Orleans Saints must try their best to re-sign Terron Armstead next year
Given the Saints’ muddy quarterback situation, the least NOLA could do is keep a strong offensive line.
When healthy, Ramczyk and Armstead have been the sturdy bookends who have both protected Taysom Hill (or whoever’s under center) and facilitated New Orleans’ rushing offense. Alvin Kamara wouldn’t be Alvin Kamara without his offensive line, and come 2022, God knows the Saints will need him just as much as this year.
In eight games this season, Armstead has allowed just one sack through 468 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Armstead does have a bit of an injury history: since 2019, the veteran has sat out nine games.
Yet all members of the Saints offense benefit when Armstead does play, and the Saints would be hard-pressed to find a better offensive lineman.
Next. 10 shining stars from Saints’ electrifying week 15 win vs. Buccaneers. dark
The gist of all this is pretty obvious: Armstead is a good player. The Saints want to keep him.
If NOLA can figure out their tricky cap space situation in 2022, it’s a no-brainer. Re-sign Terron Armstead.