New Orleans Saints rookie guard Jeremiah Wright was named a potential impact player for the upcoming season. If training camp goes his way, Wright overtakes incumbent starter and former first round pick Cesar Ruiz. The New Orleans Saints drafted Wright with the 132nd pick of the NFL Draft.
ESPN’s Field Yates details his love of the Wright pick. He said, “The [New Orleans] Saints wanted to get tougher, nastier and more physical during the draft and did exactly that by adding Wright at the end of Round 4. The hulking 6-foot-5, 331-pounder mostly anchored the right guard spot for Auburn, showing off serious power in the running game. His competitive spirit was visible at practices during Senior Bowl week, and he should be in the running for early snaps in New Orleans’ offense.”
New Orleans Saints Wright Impressed At Senior Bowl
GettyWright impressed the New Orleans Saints right away at the Senior Bowl.
At the Senior Bowl, New Orleans Saints offensive line coach Joel Thomas asked Wright to matchup against Alabama’s LT Overton; Wright impressed during the drill. Thomas participated as the head coach of the American team.
Despite participating at the Senior Bowl, Wright still has youthful experience on the offensive line. He originally played as a defensive tackle before converting to guard, and he only holds two years of starting experience at the position. Given those factors, it seems unlikely that Wright earns a starting role right away.
That being said, the New Orleans Saints clearly see the power they need to harness for Wright’s development. Noting that he weighs around 330-331 lbs and is about 6’5”, Wright has the ideal composite strength for the position. Most draft analysts ranked him as a prospect taken outside of the fourth round. The New Orleans Saints selecting Wright at 132 displays their faith that he can take another leap even at 25 years old.
Cesar Ruiz on the Chopping Block?
GettyNew Orleans Saints Cesar Ruiz risks losing his starting job this offseason to Wright.
The Saints still have not restructured Ruiz’s contract for the coming season. If Wright or Dillon Radunz wins the starting job, the New Orleans Saints can trade Ruiz to save $9.7 million this year against the salary cap. That move also frees up $4.7 million next season.
Coming into the offseason, Ruiz discussed the disappointment of the 2025 season.
He said, “Oh, bro. I got something to prove, bro. I got something to prove. Honestly, I’ve got something to prove because obviously last season wasn’t, I didn’t capitalize off the year before like I wanted to. Came off the best season I ever had in my life. We talked cover of Sports Illustrated, remember all the stuff we talked about. I’m like, man, I’m having an amazing season and to not be able to capitalize off that how I wanted to, um, it lit a fire, bro. And it was eating me up, you know what I’m saying? Like it was really bothering me.”
Regardless, the New Orleans Saints selected Wright as a developmental option for the future. If Ruiz fails to get back to his old self, Wright remains an option.
New Orleans Saints Wright-ing the Ship at Guard; New Starter?