The New Orleans Saints depleted offensive line just got worse following the Ryan Ramczyk news. The All-Pro tackle suffered a serious knee injury late in the 2023 season that will sideline him for the entirety of the 2024 season. New Orleans placed him on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, prematurely ending his season due to his status as a vested veteran.
Even if Ryan Ramczyk was healthy, the Saints offensive line would be in trouble. Trevor Penning has yet to prove he belongs in the NFL, and New Orleans is betting everything on first-round pick Taliese Fuaga hitting the ground running. Erik McCoy is one of the league’s better centers, but the guard position is a nightmare. Even if you assume Fuaga is up for the task, Ramcyk’s absence means that at least three of the Saints five offensive line spots are in complete disarray. This could spell doom for any team, but it’s especially worrisome when Derek Carr is your quarterback.
Derek Carr is a fine quarterback who can guide a talented team on a deep postseason run. However, he’s not the type of player capable of elevating a flawed roster, and he’s one of the worst in the league against pressure. This unholy combination of quarterback and offensive line could potentially sink the entire season. With Ryan Ramczyk gone, the Saints might need to beat out a division rival in a bidding war for someone like Donovan Smith.
Saints Could Fight Panthers For Donovan Smith After Losing Ryan Ramczyk
Donovan Smith is no superstar, but he might be the best Ryan Ramczyk replacement for the Saints. After a solid career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Smith joined the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2023 offseason. Starting and appearing in 12 games, the former first-round pick earned the second Super Bowl ring of his career but didn’t look too special while on the field. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith finished the season with an underwhelming 57.8 grade, the 61st-best mark out of 81 eligible players.
Quite frankly, there’s a reason that Donovan Smith is still available at this point in the offseason. However, beggars can’t be choosers, and the Saints need someone with a pulse to replace Ryan Ramczyk. Smith has a history of starting-caliber play and, even during a down season, still had a better PFF grade than Penning. The Saints should pursue him, but they might need to beat ou the Carolina Panthers for his services.
Panthers Targeting Donovan Smith?
The Saints can offer Donovan Smith a chance to start at right tackle, but the Panthers can give him a chance to compete for the left tackle position. After watching Bryce Young fail to produce in a disastrous environment, Carolina did everything they could to provide an adequate supporting cast. The team spent big on the interior offensive line, traded for Diontae Johnson, and selected wide receiver Xavier Legette in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, the one thing they didn’t do was address the left tackle position.
2022 first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu showed signs of life as a rookie but failed to make the Year 2 leap in 2023. While he wasn’t an active liability, his 67.4 PFF grade left something to be desired. Donovan Smith could be a decent insurance policy if Eknwonu regresses in 2025. Carolina could use him, and they’d probably love to take the Saints top replacement for Ryan Ramczyk while they’re at it.
Main Photo: Eric Hartline – USA Today Sports
