Saints' latest addition brings emotion and ferocity that the team has lacked recently

What are the Saints getting in Lucas Patrick?

Plenty of emoting and leadership. Aside from his play on the field, he has been a locker room leader during his time in the pros. 

New Orleans already added some OL depth in Oli Udoh and Shane Lemieux for the interior. Patrick is probably the most consistent option as depth at center. He's taken 1,964 snaps at that spot in the NFL. 

For the past two seasons he's been playing all three interior offensive line positions for the Chicago Bears, most recently at center in 2023, where he played nearly 1000 snaps. He should be an incredibly important addition to the Saints' offensive line, likely playing at both guard positions and even center if necessary. Patrick's added depth and 96 career games of experience should go a long way in ensuring that Derek Carr is protected for the duration of the 2024 NFL season. -- Travis May

Erik McCoy is the clear-cut starter at center for the Saints, but Patrick can be useful insurance in case of injury. McCoy started all 17 games in 2024, but he did miss seven games combined in the prior two years.

You can tell that Patrick has passion for his teammates by his reactions around their success. Don't ever doubt his commitment and care for the guys around him.

Patrick is a good veteran option for New Orleans. 

His athleticism is one of his strengths, and they are surely targeting smooth movers along the OL with the addition of OC Klint Kubiak. Not to mention, he can be nasty, too.

Patrick fits that bill. Now, he will play a key role and compete for the starting guard spot alongside McCoy and Cesar Ruiz on the inside of their line.