Saints have at least one offensive lineman receiving praise ahead of the 2024 season

Going into the 2024 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints offensive line will be under a microscope. The unit was average, at best, in 2023, and the group underwent significant change this offseason, expected to return just two starters. Unfortunately, people don’t know what to expect from the newcomers, and that uncertainty has led to pessimism.

While everyon questions the offensive line, and points to the group as the reason things will fall apart in 2024, there is, at least, one Saints offensive lineman getting some praise.

Every offseason, ESPN’s senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler surveys league execs, coaches, and scouts, having them rank the top 10 players at each position. Recently, the ranking for interior offensive linemen were released. The Saints didn’t have a player in the top 10 but starting center Erik McCoy was named as an honorable mention.

Erik McCoy lands just outside the top 10 of NFL interior offensive linemen

McCoy, who was selected in the second round of the 2019 Draft by the Saints, was praised for his power and physicality. Although he didn’t officially make the top 10, one high-ranking exec argued that McCoy has a case for being the best center in football.

"After five NFL seasons, McCoy owns a 93.7% pass block win rate and a 70.4% run block win rate. "You could make an argument he's been the best center for a while. He gives us problems. Plays like a guard as far as power and physicality," a high-ranking NFL personnel man said."

- Jeremy Fowler (ESPN)

This assessment is music to the ears of a Saints team than needs McCoy to anchor the offensive line. He and right guard Cesar Ruiz will be the only two lineman returning to their spot if Ryan Ramczyk is unable to recover from his knee injury. They will be tasked with leading a young and inexperienced offensive line.

Despite the group’s inexperience, they’re now playing under an offensive coordinator in Klint Kubiak who wants to run the football. If New Orleans is going to establish the kid of run game it needs to be successful, McCoy will have to continue to perform like a top offensive lineman, and he’ll have to bring the rest of the group along with him.

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