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New Orleans Saints fourth-round draft pick Jeremiah Wright wasn't a full-time starter on Auburn's offensive line until 2024. For several seasons, Wright had been converted to a defensive lineman, but in 2022, he served as the team's backup left guard. It wasn't until two years later that Wright found his calling on the offensive line.
Over the last two seasons, Wright started all 24 games at right guard, and in 2025, he led the team with 33 knockdown blocks. At 6-foot-5 and 331 pounds, Wright is considered to be a high-upside developmental prospect with a lot of untapped potential at the NFL level.
Now, heading into his rookie season with the Saints, there's already been chatter that Wright could emerge as a future starter. New Orleans landed former Buffalo Bills offensive guard David Edwards on Day 1 of free agency, signing him to a four-year, $61 million deal. However, Edwards doesn't appear to be the odd man out; ESPN's Ben Solak says 27-year-old offensive guard Cesar Ruiz could be at risk of losing his starting role if Wright can quickly adjust to the NFL level.
"The weakest point is Ruiz at right guard," Solak wrote. "He simply does not move people in the running game the way the other four starters do... If the Saints' offensive coaching staff can get Wright up to speed quickly, I'd expect them to have a quick hook on Ruiz to finish the offensive line facelift and really start running people into the ground."
Ruiz, selected by the Saints at pick No. 24 in the 2020 NFL Draft, is entering the third season of a four-year contract extension worth $44 million — and is set to become a free agent after 2027. Playing in 14 games last season, Ruiz allowed three sacks and 14 quarterback hurries, while earning a 44.7 PFF run blocking grade, which ranked 73rd of 81 eligible offensive guards. The former first-round pick is a lock to start in Week 1, but, as Solak mentioned, if he continues to struggle in the run game and Wright looks like a viable option, there's a world where the former Michigan Wolverine could be sent to the bench.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: ESPN: Saints' Jeremiah Wright on deck to replace Cesar Ruiz?
Continue reading...
Over the last two seasons, Wright started all 24 games at right guard, and in 2025, he led the team with 33 knockdown blocks. At 6-foot-5 and 331 pounds, Wright is considered to be a high-upside developmental prospect with a lot of untapped potential at the NFL level.
Now, heading into his rookie season with the Saints, there's already been chatter that Wright could emerge as a future starter. New Orleans landed former Buffalo Bills offensive guard David Edwards on Day 1 of free agency, signing him to a four-year, $61 million deal. However, Edwards doesn't appear to be the odd man out; ESPN's Ben Solak says 27-year-old offensive guard Cesar Ruiz could be at risk of losing his starting role if Wright can quickly adjust to the NFL level.
"The weakest point is Ruiz at right guard," Solak wrote. "He simply does not move people in the running game the way the other four starters do... If the Saints' offensive coaching staff can get Wright up to speed quickly, I'd expect them to have a quick hook on Ruiz to finish the offensive line facelift and really start running people into the ground."
Ruiz, selected by the Saints at pick No. 24 in the 2020 NFL Draft, is entering the third season of a four-year contract extension worth $44 million — and is set to become a free agent after 2027. Playing in 14 games last season, Ruiz allowed three sacks and 14 quarterback hurries, while earning a 44.7 PFF run blocking grade, which ranked 73rd of 81 eligible offensive guards. The former first-round pick is a lock to start in Week 1, but, as Solak mentioned, if he continues to struggle in the run game and Wright looks like a viable option, there's a world where the former Michigan Wolverine could be sent to the bench.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: ESPN: Saints' Jeremiah Wright on deck to replace Cesar Ruiz?
Continue reading...
