Saints can replace Terron Armstead with these 3 draft options

The New Orleans Saints could very well lose Terron Armstead in free agency. If they do, they’ll need to find their future franchise left tackle in the 2022 NFL Draft. Armstead is projected to make nearly $100 million on his next contract and that’s money NOLA simply can’t afford to dish out. Other teams will jump at the chance to do so.

It’d be one thing if Armstead was healthy but he’s yet to play in a full regular season. The injuries paired with his age make Armstead an easy candidate to let walk this spring and the draft will be the best place to find his successor.

They could turn to free agency, of course, but if they want to find a main stay at the position, the draft is the cheapest way to find their next left tackle.

Let’s take a look at three potential draft options who could replace Armstead if he does indeed leave in free agency.

3. Rasheed Walker

If the Saints opt to find their quarterback and wide receiver in the first two rounds, Rasheed Walker is probably going to be the best remaining option on the board when they’re on the clock next. This wouldn’t be a bad thing by any means but Walker probably isn’t ready to be the Saints’ starting left tackle from the jump.

The Draft Network has Walker’s ideal role being as either a starting right tackle or a developmental left tackle. Well, NOLA has their right tackle and they could move Ryan Ramczyk to the left side but it’d probably just be best to mentor Walker for the left tackle role down the road.

If this was the route the Saints ended up taking, they’d probably go with someone like Landon Young or sign a veteran free-agent on a one-year deal to slot in at left tackle until Walker was ready to go.

Ideally, the Saints address the position earlier in the draft but with strong needs at two of the most important positions in the sport, that could be tricky.