Trevor Penning’s make-or-break season with the Saints will start in training camp

The New Orleans Saints, as a franchise, are entering a make-or-break season, and that’s also the case individually for a lot of people on the team. Head coach Dennis Allen could be coaching for his job, Derek Carr could be playing to remain a QB1, and several other players will be hoping to prove their worth to the Saints and other NFL teams.

One of those players is third-year tackle Trevor Penning. Since being selected with the 19th-overall pick in the 2019 Draft, Penning’s career hasn’t had the kind of start that New Orleans has hoped for. As a rookie, Penning appeared in just six games, starting one. In year two, he actually entered the season as a starter, but was benched after a few weeks into the season.

That left many people wondering if Penning would ever develop into the tackle that the Saints drafted him to be. With the NFL moving on as fast as it does, New Orleans drafted another tackle, Taliese Fuaga, in the first round of the 2024 Draft. Fuaga has already been lining up as the starting left tackle, essentially replacing Penning.

However, Penning has been given one more chance. With veteran right tackle Ryan Ramczyk dealing with a knee injury that could keep him sidelined for the season, Penning has switched over to right tackle, and been given the chance to win the job. With all that’s at stake for Penning, it’s easy to see why he was named to a recent Bleacher Report list of disappointing players that will have to prove themselves in training camp.

Trevor Penning must have an impressive training camp

Alex Ballentine named seven players that need to impress as soon as they arrive to training camp and Penning was one of them. Detailing Penning’s NFL journey, and the current offensive line circumstances for the Saints, Ballentine explained that Penning has a fresh start but things could still go one of two ways. Either Penning will put on the kind of performance that will comfort the Saints, showing that he can be a full-time starter, or he will disappoint, and New Orleans will be forced to find a replacement.

While others will have all season to make a case, Penning will have a month. Flipping to the right side of the offensive line, Penning must quickly learn the new position and new offense, and prove that he’s a starting tackle in the NFL.

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