After 9 years, former Saints first-round pick Andrus Peat's run with New Orleans is officially at an end.
Peat, who primarily played at guard before being thrust into the left tackle role last season, is planning to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
The news brings to an end any potential return for the No. 13 overall selection in the 2015 draft out of Stanford, who became a mainstay along the Saints OL at guard next to Terron Armstead for several years. Peat was a three-time Pro Bowler at guard and appeared in 111 games, though he did have issues with injuries that cost him to miss 27 games since 2019.
The Saints will now have to look elsewhere to fill a void at guard with no clear replacement, with veteran James Hurst announcing his retirement shortly before the NFL draft. The Saints did not draft any interior line prospects, but did sign a trio of players who could factor into the competition in Tulane's Sincere Haynesworth, Nebraska's Nouredin Nouili and Boston College's Kyle Hergel. Last year's 4th round pick Nick Saldiveri could be an option, along with veteran Shane Lemieux, who agreed to a deal with the Saints shortly after the draft.
The Saints selected Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga at No. 14 overall in the recent draft, and he'll likely be the option at right tackle should Ryan Ramczyk's balky knee keep him off the field. That would leave another former first-round pick in Trevor Penning to compete to start at left tackle, with veterans Oli Udoh and Justin Herron the most likely competition, barring any further signings.
Next up for the Saints will be rookie minicamp scheduled May 10-12, followed by three OTA sessions and a mandatory minicamp spanning May and June, followed by a full training camp out in Irvine, California kicking off in late July.
