The New Orleans Saints have featured one of the NFL’s best offensive lines the past two seasons, but with center Max Unger retiring, it’s tough to project how the group will play in 2019.
The team signed Nick Easton as the presumed replacement for Unger, but the former Vikings interior lineman missed all of 2018 with a neck injury and has just 17 career starts. Fortunately, the Saints also have promising young center options in Cameron Tom and Will Clapp.
Meanwhile, the guard spots should be set with Andrus Peat on the left side and Larry Warford on the right, but depth is always critical along the line. In addition to Tom and Clapp being able to play center and guard, Michael Ola has tackle and guard versatility, but the Saints still might want to draft someone to group as an interior option.
With less than three weeks remaining before the draft, we’re analyzing the Saints’ needs at each position.
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Saints depth chart
Andrus Peat
Larry Warford
Nick Easton
Cameron Tom
Will Clapp
Michael Ola
Potential Day 1 (first round) selections
Jonah Williams, Alabama
Cody Ford, Oklahoma
Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
Garrett Bradbury, NC State
Potential Day 2 (rounds 2-3) selections
Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
Nate Davis, Charlotte
Michael Jordan, Ohio State
Connor McGovern, Penn State
Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State
Michael Deiter, Wisconsin
Lamont Gaillard, Georgia
Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin
Dru Samia, Oklahoma
Potential Day 3 (rounds 4-7) selections
Ben Powers, Oklahoma
Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
Javon Patterson, Ole Miss
Brandon Hitner, Villanova
Mitch Hyatt, Clemson
Phil Haynes, Wake Forest
Shaq Calhoun, Mississippi State
Fred Johnson, Florida
Martez Ivey, Florida
Nate Herbig, Stanford
B.J. Autry, Jacksonville State
Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
Ryan Bates, Penn State
Alex Bars, Notre Dame
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