The New England Patriots have been urged to pursue a $44 million veteran offensive lineman to snag some more protection for quarterback Drake Maye.
ESPN’s Seth Walder identified New Orleans Saints guard Cesar Ruiz as a trade target for New England in a leaguewide deadline preview published Wednesday.
Ruiz, a former first-round pick, is in the third season of a four-year, $44 million contract extension he signed with New Orleans in 2023.
Walder’s recommendation comes as the Patriots try to handle injuries to their top two starting guards, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu, ahead of the NFL’s Nov. 10 trade deadline.
New England have a 5-3 record with Sunday’s 24-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
ESPN’s Seth Walder Urges Patriots to Pursue Cesar Ruiz
Walder specifically pointed to Ruiz as the player New England should target, citing his pass protection and the Patriots’ depleted offensive line.
“Both of the Patriots’ Week 1 starters at guard” are on injured reserve, Walder noted in his Nov. 4 analysis.
The ESPN analyst also focused on Ruiz’s pass block win rate, which ranks in the 78th percentile this season.
Even though Walder sees Ruiz as a more effective pass blocker than run blocker, he accentuated that protecting Maye should be New England’s biggest priority along its offensive line.
Ruiz, 27, was selected by the Saints with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft out of Michigan. He has since developed into an experienced starting guard, with the majority of his NFL snaps coming at right guard.
His contract has an average annual value of $11 million, according to Over the Cap. The deal runs through the 2027 season.
It’s also worth mentioning that Ruiz has battled a knee injury, which sidelined him for New Orleans’ Week 7 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 25.
Regardless, New Orleans sits at 2-5 and might move veteran players to accumulate assets for the future.
Patriots Face Major Offensive Line Questions Before Trade Deadline
New England’s need for offensive line help has become increasingly apparent.
Placed on injured reserve on Sept. 22, Onwenu had poor injury luck with a broken ankle.
Vera-Tucker then landed on injured reserve Oct. 22 with a hamstring injury, leaving the Patriots without either of their original starting guards.
The team has consequently relied on players such as Ben Brown, Matt Pryor and Walter Rouse to fill the vacancies.
The Patriots also placed veteran backup Greg Van Roten on injured reserve in September, further limiting their options.
Those injuries bring about an opening for Ruiz, who could give New England an interior offensive lineman boost. And when its injured starters return, depth becomes deeper.
Acquiring him, though, could involve financial complications.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported in the same Nov. 4 preview that the Patriots have less than $5 million in available salary cap space, which could limit their ability to make an expensive addition without corresponding adjustments.
The Saints would also have to consider the financials of moving Ruiz after restructuring his contract.
New England’s offensive line has stayed competitive despite its injuries, but the team faces a consequential stretch of games as it attempts to remain in the AFC playoff race.
Patriots Urged to Trade for $44 Million NFC Starter Before Deadline