Pro Football Focus gives extra motivation to specific New Orleans Saints position group with latest NFL rankings

The New Orleans Saints are dealing with a lot of new faces. Along their roster and coaching staff, new pieces are involved, led by head coach Kellen Moore. In the past, offensive success under Moore has started with the offensive line. For the Saints, there are doubts with that unit entering the season. 

Saints offensive line ranked 22nd in NFL by PFF

The Saints' offensive line has plenty of potential, with four former first-round picks in the mix. The unit's best player may be the lone non-first-rounder, center Erik McCoy. He earned a 94.4 PFF overall grade in 2024 across only 293 snaps over seven games. Trevor Penning showed promising signs as a run blocker at right tackle last season, which can help him in his new left guard role.

New Orleans is set to start a third straight first-round draft pick at left tackle in 2025, with rookie Kelvin Banks Jr. getting the nod. If he lives up to his draft potential, the Saints' offensive line is immediately closer to the middle of the pack. -- Pro Football Focus

It feels like the biggest knock for New Orleans is the "unknown" factor in all of this. Will Kelvin Banks Jr. be able to hold down a starting tackle spot in year one? Unsure. Can Trevor Penning make the move to guard a smooth one? Can't be certain. Will Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz both stay healthy for most or all of the season? Difficult to project there, too. 

All in all, there are some questions along the OL for New Orleans, even if they do possess some exciting upside as well. 

Young talent for Saints OL

Banks and Fuaga could create a dynamic offensive tackle duo for the Saints, though. The latter was very impressive playing on a struggling offensive line as a rookie last season, and there is a lot of belief that he will only keep improving. 

Banks was looked at as one of the more pro-ready OL prospects in this year's draft class, and New Orleans clearly valued him quite highly since they took him in the top fifteen. 

Meshing under Moore's tutelage may make the biggest difference for both of these players. They have to adjust, coming from different seasons (and even levels of play) a season ago.