In football, every thing starts in the trenches; teams usually go as their offensive line goes. The New Orleans Saints saw that this past season as an injured offensive line led to the team’s demise. When the group was healthy, the Saints were solid, but multiple injuries to the interior of the offensive line ruined the season.
When the 2025 NFL Draft rolls around, New Orleans will likely add an offensive lineman to improve their depth at the position, and one name the team could be eyeing is Aireontae Ersery.
Accolades: BIG 10 Offensive Lineman of the Year, all BIG 10 First Team, 3rd Team All-American
2024 stats: 690 snaps, 1sack, 13 pressures
Size: 6”6’, 330 LBs
Projection: Early Day 2
Aireontae Ersery is a powerful blocker with unlimited potential, largely due to his athleticism. He pairs his elite frame and power with impressive movement skills, making him a highly coveted prospect for any team needing help at tackle.
Ersery’s athleticism is his most intriguing quality, especially in the run game. He thrives at pulling and getting a running start into the defense. He is quick out of his stance, stays low, and swiftly gets on a man. In pass protection he is a smooth mover. It’s rare to see a defender able to win quickly with just speed.
For a majority of people, it takes their entire lives to be as skillful at something as Ersery is at being a tackle. However, he started playing football in his junior year of high school. He is a quick learner with ample room to grow. If given the correct coaching, Ersery has the chance to become a franchise cornerstone.
Ersery contains immense power that he uses to bulldoze defenders in the run game. He is a mauler with his massive frame, pairing this with his knowledge of using leverage is unfair to the defense. The former Golden Gopher can get lower than the defender then push him clear out of the way. It’s not uncommon to see him take someone out of the play.
Ersery is best when put in a zone running scheme. He excels at reaching his spot and moving defenders out of the way. He is a running backs best friend, paving a lane he can effortlessly navigate through.
The thing Ersery needs to improve is his technique. This isn’t shocking with his surprisingly recent decision to play football. It will behoove him to possibly sit a year and to have more advanced coaches to help him with this.
Aireontae Ersery has a high ceiling and could develop into being a franchise cornerstone. His athleticism mixed with his power warrants scouts to be interested. The Saints should put thought into selecting Ersery.