As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, there’s no doubt that the New Orleans Saints will use at least on of their picks on an offensive lineman. In 2024, the Saints’ lack of offensive line depth was on full display, as the team lost multiple starting linemen, and paid for it.
To prevent that from happening again, the Saints must build depth. That’ll be accomplished in free agency and the draft. For the draft, one name that will likely be on New Orleans’ radar is Tate Ratledge.
Tate Ratledge can help the Saints build offensive line depth
Accolades: 2nd team All-American (2023)
2024 stats: 500 snaps, 1 sack, 7 pressures
Size: 6’6, 320 LBs
Projection: Late third, early fourth
Tate Ratledge is an experienced blocker always looking to hit an opposing player, especially in the run game. The former Bulldog was a three year starter in a prolific Georgia offense. Ratledge missed four weeks in 2024 due to surgery on a high ankle sprain, but this shouldn’t affect his draft stock.
Defenders should be frightened to see Ratledge barreling towards them in the run game. He is relentless, not ceasing until he reaches his target. Ratledge consistently pushes a defender far away from the play, if not throwing them on the ground. He never backs down from a challenge, even if it’s a top defender in the league.
Ratledge has the needed strength and agility for the next level. He’s more than capable of pulling in the run game and as I noted before, Ratledge has plenty of power to push a defender over. He also has great lateral agility in pass protection, making it a challenge for pass rushers to win quickly.
Ratledge is a high IQ player, successfully identifying blitzes and picking up stunts. This is an attractive quality for an NFL lineman. Getting beat immediately on a stunt or leaving a blitzer unblocked is an easy way to the bench. This is an important trait for the Saints to seek; they suffered mightily in 2024 with defending stuns.
The biggest issue with Ratledge’s game is his over-eagerness. Being aggressive is a desirable trait for a lineman, however, there’s a certain extent where it becomes problematic for the offense. Ratledge misses way too many blocks trying to level a defender or reach him too early. This needs to be fixed for him to succeed in the NFL.
Tate Ratledge is an intriguing prospect for any team looking to improve their interior offensive line, which the Saints desperately need to do. His nasty streak in the run game, athleticism, and high IQ are what’s made him a three year starter at Georgia. All that’s left to be seen is if it can translate to the NFL.