James Hurst is a decent option to start at left tackle for the Saints

The New Orleans Saints, unfortunately, lost Terron Armstead in free agency to the Miami Dolphins. The money was one reason why Armstead wasn’t retained but another big one was that the guy simply couldn’t stay healthy. That’s why when the Saints signed James Hurst a few years ago as a backup tackle, it was a brilliant signing.

Dennis Allen spoke to the media on Tuesday and said that with Armstead officially not coming back, Hurst could be the guy. Not only that, but Allen said he has “all the confidence in the world that James Hurst can step in”.

While Hurst was signed to be a depth piece, he proved to be incredibly valuable to the Saints last year, appearing in all 17 games and making 15 starts. He finished the season with a respectable 69.8 PFF grade.

Saints putting James Hurst at LT isn’t a bad idea

Now, this isn’t to say that New Orleans shouldn’t prioritize finding a left tackle. If someone like Charles Cross falls to them in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, they should absolutely snatch him up and make him their future starter.

They also shouldn’t shy away from potentially adding someone like Eric Fisher or Duane Brown in free agency. Both of these guys are experienced at left tackle but do have injury concerns and shouldn’t be banked on to be the future at the position.

Hurst has been dependable and while he wouldn’t be the best left tackle in the league, New Orleans could greatly benefit from having him on their roster.

When Allen said Hurst would excel if that’s the route the Saints decide to take it, fans mostly agreed with him. Hurst has been everything that NOLA hoped he’d be when they brought him in and if he is the left tackle for the black and gold, he’ll put them in a prime position to succeed.

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