The New Orleans Saints were able to keep their depth at the offensive guard position in check after resigning Calvin Throckmorton to a one-year deal. Throckmorton was slated to hit the free agency market that starts on March 15th when the official start of the league year begins, but the Saints were able to lock him up before that date. According to NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, the one-year deal for Throckmorton is worth $940,000. He qualified for the ERFA tender value at around $825,000, but New Orleans signed him to the veteran’s minimum.
Calvin Throckmorton’s Football Career:
Throckmorton spent his collegiate career at Oregon before being drafted after the conclusion of the 2019 season for the Ducks. With Oregon, Throckmorton would make 52 consecutive starts to finish his collegiate career. The Bellevue, Washington native would allow just one sack over his final 3,222 snaps, including 1,602 in pass protection. He was the only FBS lineman during the 2018 season to start at four different positions.
Throckmorton has been able to show his versatility to play at any position on the offensive line and his accolades showed that during his junior and senior season at Oregon as he was named a second-team All-American.
After his career with the Ducks, Throckmorton would be an undrafted free agent in 2020 and New Orleans would be that team to scoop up the dynamic offensive lineman. He would spend his entire rookie season on the practice squad before making the leap onto the 56-man roster during his second-year in the NFL. During the 2021 season, Throckmorton played in all 17 regular season games with 15 of them being starts at three different positions on the offensive line. In 2022, he would play in 14 games with six of them being starts.
Throckmorton Will Provide Depth To The Offensive Line:
With the announcement of Throckmorton being re-signed by New Orleans to begin the offseason it will provide depth across the offensive line, especially at offensive guard. Currently the Saints have Andrus Peat, Cesar Ruiz and Throckmorton as the primary rotation at the position. Lewis Kidd, Yasir Durant and Koda Martin make up the remaining rotation.
Peat and Ruiz have been the primary starters at offensive guard, while Throckmorton remains one of the strongest choices to backup the two. Peat saw 573 snaps on offense (all at left guard) and 32 on special teams (field goal attempt). Ruiz saw 868 snaps on offense (777 at right guard), 91 at center and 54 on special teams (field goal attempts).
Throckmorton was also able to contribute as he saw 460 snaps on offense (246 at left guard, 212 at right guard) and 50 on special teams (field goal attempts). With this injury history of Peat and Ruiz it is only smart for the Saints to bring back Throckmorton that has the capability to play multiple positions. When anyone on the offensive line goes down with an injury, the former Oregon product has shown that he can step in and serve a vital role to the New Orleans offense.
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