One of the biggest needs that the New Orleans Saints have to address this offseason is bolstering their offensive line. And because they have the No. 14 pick, they have a great opportunity to do so by getting one of the best young tackles in the country today.
With that said, several mock drafts have New Orleans selecting JC Latham in the 2024 NFL Draft, as they believe that the Alabama standout can immediately contribute to their offense next season.
“Latham is a strong and lengthy offensive tackle that can slot into either spot on the edges of the Saints offensive line. Instant impact,” wrote Chris Trapasso via CBS Sports.
The New Orleans Saints’ current offensive line depth
As of this writing, the New Orleans Saints only have a few offensive linesmen who are under contract, such as Trevor Penning, Cesar Ruiz, Nick Saldiveri, Landon Young, and Ryan Ramczyk. Earlier this week, they managed to restructure their center, Erik McCoy, which is a good move overall.
Trevor Penning was drafted by New Orleans with the No. 19 pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, but he hasn’t panned out as their left tackle. Meanwhile, Andrus Peat, the 13th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, has done well in the team since he has three Pro Bowl selections, but there’s a chance that he’ll find a new home this offseason.
That leaves them with only Ryan Ramczyk as their only quality offensive tackle, especially since the New Orleans Saints gave him a five-year, $96 million extension in 2021. However, his chronic knee issues are a big problem to the point that it has sparked retirement talks despite being only 29 years old.
How JC Latham fits in with the New Orleans Saints
NFL analysts envision JC Latham playing left tackle with Ryan Ramczyk on the right side, although he hasn’t played there that much so far. However, if Ryan Ramczyk is unavailable, Latham could slide over at the right tackle, his natural position.
Standing at 6’6″ and 360 pounds, Latham is an imposing figure. He’s a solid run-blocker, which was a primary concern for the New Orleans Saints in 2023 because they were tied for a league-worst 3.6 yards per carry.