No New Orleans Saints player has had his name called out more this offseason than offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz.
From fans and media questioning his play level in 2025 to his own general manager, Mickey Loomis, mentioning him unsolicited as a player the team has “got to get more out of” as last season concluded.
For the record, Loomis also made it known that he views Ruiz as a good player.
But his and the outside call-outs haven’t gone unheard. Ruiz hasn’t been shy about his desire to prove himself going into 2026 while acknowledging his performance from last season.
“I’ve got something to prove,” Ruiz said on Terron Armstead’s The Set podcast. “Honestly, I’ve got something to prove because obviously last season wasn’t, I didn’t capitalize off the year before like I wanted to.”
As training camp approaches, it will offer Ruiz his best chance to prove himself early. From trade rumors to the Saints’ drafting his assumed competition or successor in fourth-round selection Jeremiah Wright, he’s endured a lot of conversation over the course of the offseason.
Beginning on July 29, when the Saints hit the field for their first training camp practice, Ruiz will have his first opportunity to respond with his on-field performance and development since minicamp.
As a pass protector, Ruiz’s overall performance usually wouldn’t draw much ire. He was credited by Pro Football Focus (PFF) with only 19 pressures surrendered, including three sacks and a 3.7% pressure percentage.
However, the context of the sacks that were credited against him have a lot to do with the overall response. Two of his surrendered sacks came in the fourth quarter and the one that didn’t came on a third down. Those types of plays will certainly draw a lot of attention.
Additionally, the team’s rushing performance over to his side didn’t produce the way the team had hoped. PFF lists the right b-gap (between the right guard and right tackle) as one of the lowest-performing gaps of the Saints’ run game in 2025, averaging just 2.4 yards per carry.
Ruiz is looking to prove himself again this year after having a stellar season in 2024 but not following it up as he’d hoped last year.
His ability to do so could expose a lot about his future with the team as he enters his final season with guaranteed funds on his contract. With New Orleans not having restructured his deal this year, they’re set to save $4.7 million if they choose to part ways in 2027.
