The New Orleans Saints added a pair of tackles in the 2024 draft, but they weren't done adding to the position.
The team has signed a pair of veterans in G/C Shane Lemieux and tackle Justin Herron, moves officially announced Tuesday afternoon. Both players have been signed to 1-year deals.
Herron was originally a 6th round pick of the Patriots in 2020, spending the past two season with the Las Vegas Raiders. In his career Herron has appeared in 35 regular season games with 11 starts. He's played at both right and left tackle.
Lemieux was a 5th round pick in the same draft, landing with the Giants. Lemieux started nine games as a rookie and has appeared in 18 games total. The former Oregon Duck appeared in four games for the Giants in 2023 before a season-ending biceps injury.
Herron would be expected to join the mix at a tackle position with very little set in stone. Trevor Penning is expected to compete to start at left tackle, while right tackle will likely be one of veteran Ryan Ramczyk, whose knee health remains a major question, or rookie Taliese Fuaga, whom the Saints selected out of Oregon State with the No. 14 overall pick. The Saints also selected Eastern Kentucky OT Josiah Ezirim in the 7th round.
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The Saints will also have a question of backups and at least one starter on the interior offensive line. Center Erik McCoy and RG Cesar Ruiz will return as unquestioned starters, but the left guard spot is wide open after James Hurst's retirement prior to the draft. The Saints did not add any draft picks at the position, barring changes, but could look to last year's 4th round selection Nick Saldiveri after the former Old Dominion standout spent his rookie season in the background, or veteran Tommy Kraemer. The Saints have also added some UDFA competition in Sincere Haynseworth (Tulane), Kyle Hergel (Boston College) and Nouri Nouili (Nebraska).
Next up for the Saints will be a rookie minicamp. The Saints will get on the field for three sets OTAs in May, then a mandatory minicamp from June 11-13. Dates have not yet been set for the full training camp, which will be held in Irvine, California due to ongoing construction at the team's practice facilit.