Heading toward the bulk of the New Orleans Saints' offseason work, a major question remains: Who will be the starter at left guard in the 2024 season?
The hole became even more glaring with the retirement of veteran James Hurst, who started 13 games at the position a year ago. As Mike Detillier explained on SportsTalk this week, the signing of veteran Lucas Patrick following rookie minicamp resets that part of depth chart, and he's on top.
"They didn’t bring him in to watch," Detillier told WWL's Charlie Long. "He’s here to start."
That take is based in part on the track record. Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Packers in 2016, Patrick has started in 54 games, primarily at center. He's spent the past two seasons with the Bears, where he crossed paths with new Saints QBs coach Andrew Janocko, and started 20 games.
The Saints got a good look at him when the Bears visited the Saints in 2023. While he's focused on center throughout his career, he's seen action at both right and left guard and profiles well at those spots.
"He has experience in zone blocking schemes, so he fits," Detillier continued. He’s a bit of a fit in what you’re trying to change offensively, along the offensive line, the type of linemen you’re looking for."
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It's also fitting that he appears to be a Hurst replacement, another player who went the UDFA route to the NFL.
"You can always kind of praise a guy’s work ethic when you see them going from an undrafted guy to being a nearly 10-year NFL vet," Long said. "So you know that he’s gonna come in here and work as hard as he can to keep extending that NFL career and keep collecting his paychecks, like Bobby likes to say.”
Other players likely in the mix at left guard could include second-year pro Nick Saldiveri and veteran Shane Lemieux, who was signed earlier this offseason.
Listen to the full conversation on SportsTalk in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.