Banks and Fuaga form new core of Saints’ O-Line

By Ross Jackson

After investing another first-round selection in another very talented offensive tackle, the New Orleans Saints are back to having four first rounders and one second-round pick (who should have been a first rounder) on their starting offensive line. 

Among them are two top-15 tackles: 2024 No. 14 overall pick Taliese Fuaga at right tackle and No. 9 overall rookie Kelvin Banks Jr. on the left. 

The two are set up with a chance to be the team’s tackle tandem of the future. Meanwhile, behind them, the Saints have desperately tried to build depth at the position in a very short time, especially when considering injuries that foiled previous plans. 

Active Roster:

LT Kelvin Banks Jr. 

RT Taliese Fuaga

T/G Xavier Truss

OL Asim Richards

Practice Squad:

T Easton Kilty

Banks and Fuaga Vying To Be The Future

The two tackles are just one draft year apart and have every bit of skill and talent necessary to be the long-standing bookends along the offensive line. Fuaga had a stellar first season, despite some struggles in the middle of the year, and Banks arrived as a pro-ready blindside protector. 

The addition of Banks allowed Fuaga to move back to his collegiate position of right tackle. Now, both players are in position to make an impact from where they are most comfortable. 

A Late Push For Depth

The Saints didn’t have much of a choice here. Once veteran offensive lineman Landon Young and former UFL standout Barry Wesley went down with preseason injuries, New Orleans had to scramble to find depth. Rather than panicking back to past and familiar options, the Saints identified players they wanted and went to get them. 

First, a 2028 NFL Draft late-round pick swap led to the addition of Asim Richards from the Dallas Cowboys, and a post-roster cut waiver claim brought in former Georgia offensive lineman and undrafted free agent Xavier Truss. 

Both are young first or second-year players, as has been a trend of Saints’ offseason additions, and bring some talent and production with them. 

However, the Saints will hope not to have to turn to them too quickly, as neither received much time with the team, having arrived without a preseason game to get some exposure to the system in the playing field. 

Some Hidden Depth

Along with Kilty on the practice squad, the Saints do have some hidden depth at tackle. Both guards Trevor Penning and Dillon Radunz can play tackle, though Radunz struggled to prove that during his first preseason game against the Chargers. He had to cover the position while Young was sidelined with a previous injury. 

However, there’s no doubt that having Banks and Fuaga in the field throughout the regular season is not just the hope, but the goal. The two have an undeniable opportunity to be there for a long time beyond 2025.