Jeremiah Wright gained some surprise steam this week as a draft pick who could have an instant impact for the New Orleans Saints. When thinking of Day 2 or Day 3 options who fit the bill, Oscar Delp and Barrion Brown are typically the first names to jump to. On top of that, Cesar Ruiz stands directly in Wright's way. It all made for a surprising listing.
Earlier, we took a look at how Ruiz may have something to say about the idea of Wright making an instant impact, but it may be out of Ruiz's hands whether or not Wright sees the field. It will be one of the most anticipated battles of camp, but Wright could lose the battle and still end up starting at some point.
Jeremiah Wright continues to prove he can be dominant on the O-line at the next level.
— Panini Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) April 17, 2026
The truth is in the tape 🔥@thatjeremiah771 | @AuburnFootball #TheDraftStartsInMobile pic.twitter.com/OotissXbJw
History says Saints are going to need Jeremiah Wright ASAP
The odds of the rookie starting a game in 2026 should be greater than the odds of him sitting on the bench or being a sixth offensive lineman in certain packages. The problem for Ruiz is it only takes one game for Kellen Moore to like what he sees.
There's two routes to Wright starting for the Saints. He could flat out beat Ruiz during training camp. That's the most simple route to the fourth round pick starting. It would also be the most encouraging. The other route for Wright to the starting five is through injury. It’s the far more unfortunate path, but it isn’t unlikely.
Erik McCoy has played seven games in each of the last two seasons. That’s well documented, but his injury concerns go back further than just 2 years. He played a full season in 2023 but missed multiple games in the 2 seasons prior. McCoy has missed 3 or more games in at least half of his seasons.
Surprisingly, the Saints didn’t invest in a backup center after Luke Fortner left. Ruiz could be the answer in case McCoy has to miss time. That would leave a vacancy for Wright.
Ruiz’s history isn't clean either. He's missed 7 games over the last two seasons. We don't have to do roster gymnastics here. Ruiz missing time instantly puts Wright in the starting lineup.
Both of these situations open the door for Wright to step in at guard, and history suggests at least one of them will happen. It's clear Wright is the right guard in waiting, so he could entrench himself permanently in the starting lineup if he shows promise in limited action.
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