The New Orleans Saints drafted Guard Cesar Ruiz at pick number 24 in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Ruiz was immediately converted into a Guard once he got into the NFL, after playing center at the University of Michigan during his colligate career. Ruiz hasn't necessarily lived up to the status of a first round pick, but he has been good enough to squeeze into the Pro Football Focus top 32 Guards list.
Not only did Ruiz make this list, but Pro Football Focus' Mason Cameron indicates that Ruiz could've ranked even higher if he didn't deal with a knee injury early in the season. "Knee injury knocked Ruiz out for a good chunk of the front half of the 2024 season, but he still managed to finish with the highest PFF overall grade of his career", Cameron stated.
Ruiz made a massive leap in the 2024 season
Ruiz saw a major improvement in 2024 after having a horrific 2023 season. Ruiz participated in 813 total snaps, giving up 13 pressure, and only 1 sack in 13 games. Ruiz also posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 67.6 where he was considered average in both the run and pass game.
With five seasons under his belt, Ruiz just turned 26 years old. He is now entering the prime of his career. Although Ruiz may never play up to his first round status, he can still be a productive piece for this young Saints offensive line.
PFF accurately ranks Ruiz at 30
Ruiz has been a consistent starter for the Saints since entering league, starting in 92% of his career games. He's certainly had his share of struggles throughout his first few seasons, but seems to be trending in the right direction after a bounce back season.
After observing the first 5 seasons of Ruiz's career, it is safe to say that he's just an average player. Ruiz has proved in 2024 that he is capable of being a serviceable starter in the league. Out of the 64 starting guards in the NFL, placing Ruiz at 30 is where he belongs, right in the middle of the pack.