New Orleans Saints offensive guard Nick Saldiveri is being awarded an opportunity to win the starting left guard job this season. After playing as a reserve throughout 2023, Saldiveri possesses a clearer pathway to relevance as a sophomore. A breakout campaign could be on the horizon.
The No. 104 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Saldiveri displayed outstanding versatility at last year's Senior Bowl. The former Old Dominion standout played multiple positions while proving he'd be an asset to any NFL team. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis wisely pounced in the fourth round.
The Saints understandably brought Saldiveri along slowly. The fourth-round pick earned 18 total reps, 14 at right guard, and an additional four as a sixth linemen in jumbo packages as a rookie. Saldiveri didn't see any game reps at all throughout New Orleans' final 10 contests.
The Saints' offensive line has gone through various changes this offseason. First-round pick Taliese Fuaga is going to replace Andrus Peat at left tackle. Trevor Penning, their 2022 first-rounder, is expected to supplant Ryan Ramczyk at right tackle. Ramczyk was recently placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) list as he continues battling chronic knee issues that sidelined him for the entire OTAs and mandatory minicamp offseason period.
Taliese Fuaga and Nick Saldiveri at left tackle and left guard pic.twitter.com/iuQRQk3vie
— NOF (@nofnetwork) June 5, 2024
And then there's Saldiveri. The Waxhaw, North Carolina native should be the third new primary starter for the Saints up front this season. Saldiveri is replacing James Hurst, who announced his retirement following an underrated 10-year career.
A do-it-all utility linemen, Hurst earned 931 snaps last season, 820 of which occurred at left guard despite previously playing left tackle in 2022. Hurst was the Saints' third-most snapped linemen, trailing just Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz, New Orleans' lone two returning starters on the offensive line. Saldiveri has massive shoes to fill.
Saldiveri isn't expected to face much competition for the job either. The Saints' depth guards entering training camp are Shane Lemieux and Mark Evans II. Lemieux is a former fifth-rounder that's been a career backup, and Evans II is a sophomore undrafted free agent that signed a futures/reserve contract earlier this year. Not exactly a murderer's row of competition.
Saldiveri will also be playing in a new offensive scheme this season. Saints head coach Dennis Allen dismissed long-time offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. earlier this summer and appointed Klint Kubiak to be his new OC. Kubiak arrived in New Orleans with an exciting offensive scheme after serving as Kyle Shanahan's passing game coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
The goal is to maximize talents like Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, and Chris Olave. Things had gotten stale under Carmichael Jr., who Allen inherited from the Sean Payton era. Saldiveri will be trusted to offer Carr enough protection to get the passing game rolling.
The Saints drafted Saldiveri in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft as a developmental future solution. Following another offseason of sweeping change, he's being positioned to start at left guard. Saldiveri possesses the necessary skill set to enjoy a breakout performance.
