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There are 78 days left before the New Orleans Saints take the field for their regular season opener. New Orleans will open their year on the road, taking on the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Center Erik McCoy enters his ninth year wearing No. 78 with the franchise.
McCoy is a key piece on the New Orleans offensive line. However, he's coming off another season-ending injury. Now as our Saints Player of the Day, we take a look at McCoy's background and career.
Out of Lufkin High School in Texas, McCoy stayed close to home with his college choice of the Aggies. He'd redshirt in 2015, then took over a starting guard spot the following season. McCoy would start all of the Aggies 39 games over the next three years. New Orleans then traded up in Round 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft to pick McCoy with the 48th overall choice. He was the fifth interior lineman selected that season.
Primarily a guard at Texas A&M, McCoy made the position switch to center as a rookie and was an immediate starter. He started all 16 games in 2019, playing 99% of the offensive snaps and earning All-Rookie honors. McCoy did not miss a start over his first two years and quickly worked his way among the NFL's top interior blockers. Between 2021 and 2022, he'd miss nine games with various injuries but remain a dominant force when available.
In 2023, McCoy again started every game and played a career-high 1,152 offensive snaps while earning a long overdue Pro Bowl bid. A groin injury in 2024 limited him to only seven games. Without McCoy, the New Orleans offensive line was in disarray most of the year. Recognizing his value by his absence, McCoy was awarded his second straight Pro Bowl.
Last season, McCoy started the first seven games of the year and was playing at a fairly high level with only a little noticeable drop-off. However, he'd suffer a torn biceps injury during a Week 7 game against the Chicago Bears that would knock him out the remainder of the year. He's now missed 20 of the last 34 games and 29 contests in the last four seasons. At a cap hit of over $10 million this year, this is a legitimate concern for the Saints McCoy has been a valuable piece of the offensive line, both in skill and football IQ. Whether Erik McCoy can still be a top-level player, and stay in the lineup, is one of the biggest things to watch for the Saints in their 2026 campaign.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Erik McCoy is the Saints Player of Day 78
Continue reading...
McCoy is a key piece on the New Orleans offensive line. However, he's coming off another season-ending injury. Now as our Saints Player of the Day, we take a look at McCoy's background and career.
- Name (age): Erik McCoy (28)
- Hometown: Lufkin, Texas
- Position: Center
- Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 303 pounds
- College: Texas A&M Aggies
- Relative Athletic Score: 8.98
- Drafted: Round 2, 48th overall in 2019 (Saints)
- NFL experience: 7 years
- 2026 salary cap hit: $10.33 million
Out of Lufkin High School in Texas, McCoy stayed close to home with his college choice of the Aggies. He'd redshirt in 2015, then took over a starting guard spot the following season. McCoy would start all of the Aggies 39 games over the next three years. New Orleans then traded up in Round 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft to pick McCoy with the 48th overall choice. He was the fifth interior lineman selected that season.
Primarily a guard at Texas A&M, McCoy made the position switch to center as a rookie and was an immediate starter. He started all 16 games in 2019, playing 99% of the offensive snaps and earning All-Rookie honors. McCoy did not miss a start over his first two years and quickly worked his way among the NFL's top interior blockers. Between 2021 and 2022, he'd miss nine games with various injuries but remain a dominant force when available.
In 2023, McCoy again started every game and played a career-high 1,152 offensive snaps while earning a long overdue Pro Bowl bid. A groin injury in 2024 limited him to only seven games. Without McCoy, the New Orleans offensive line was in disarray most of the year. Recognizing his value by his absence, McCoy was awarded his second straight Pro Bowl.
Last season, McCoy started the first seven games of the year and was playing at a fairly high level with only a little noticeable drop-off. However, he'd suffer a torn biceps injury during a Week 7 game against the Chicago Bears that would knock him out the remainder of the year. He's now missed 20 of the last 34 games and 29 contests in the last four seasons. At a cap hit of over $10 million this year, this is a legitimate concern for the Saints McCoy has been a valuable piece of the offensive line, both in skill and football IQ. Whether Erik McCoy can still be a top-level player, and stay in the lineup, is one of the biggest things to watch for the Saints in their 2026 campaign.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Erik McCoy is the Saints Player of Day 78
Continue reading...
