Saints receive the ultimate disrespect for biggest flaw on their roster

The New Orleans Saints have a massive question regarding their offense in 2024. No, it is not quarterback Derek Carr this time. Alvin Kamara's contract situation? Not that either. Rather, the Saints offensive line is extremely unproven for the upcoming season.

Pro Football Focus has been ranking position groups around the NFL during the offseason. Their latest rankings are for OL groups around the league.

Saints OL ranked last in the NFL by PFF

On paper, the Saints' offensive line features four former first-round picks. But their performance says otherwise.

Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk will likely need to miss the entire season, which will force New Orleans to play Trevor Penning at that spot after benching him in 2023.

Right guard Cesar Ruiz has failed to rank among the top 50 guards in PFF overall grade in any of his first four seasons. As a result, the Saints have to hope that Oregon State product Taliese Fuaga will hit the ground running at left tackle to improve the unit.

- Zoltán Buday , PFF

Their concerns are fair. The Saints OL will have tons to prove because three of their expected starters did not start for the unit in 2023.

Nick Saldiveri is currently projected to start at guard, while rookie Taliese Fuaga is expected to be the starting left tackle. Trevor Penning returns to the projected starting lineup at RT due to Ramczyk's injury situation.

If the Saints OL can be a top half of the NFL unit, that would probably be considered a win for them by many.

The offensive line struggled mightily in the first half of 2023 in front of Derek Carr, but they did play better ball in the second half of the season. It is no coincidence that the QB's play improved during those games, too.

Regardless, there's plenty of pressure on young guys like Fuaga and Saldiveri to step up for New Orleans. Penning has yet to show he can be a swing tackle, let alone a starter, yet in the pros. That group of three can decide whether or not the Saints offense is good enough in 2024 in order for the team to return to the postseason or not.

As for McCoy and Ruiz, they must find more of the consistency that they showed during the 2022 season. They both have the talent in them to lead the offensive line to a surprisingly impressive campaign.

Only time will tell if they can prove outlets like PFF wrong this season.

Related: Saints' key player feeling confident entering offseason of major change