By Ross Jackson
With the team set to report for OTAs this week, a lot of excitement around the new faces of the New Orleans Saints is bubbling up. However, with the excitement of young rookies joining a team comes the potential for them to push established veterans out of roles or roster spots.
Some incumbent Saints are going to have a lot of new competition incoming. At the same time, they have an effectively all-new coaching staff to convince in the meanwhile. There will be no loyalties and nothing given this offseason.
This series will focus on returning Saints that are in for a fight for their roles. Because of the nature of this offseason and the extensive amount of change throughout, the list is long, so we’ll take it one at a time.
OL Nick Saldiveri
The 2023 fourth-round draft pick was selected with high hopes. The Saints traded up to the first selection of day three in that year’s draft in order to select him, showing a lot of desire to get him to New Orleans. However, the pick hasn’t yet panned out for the team and former ODU tackle.
His first season he saw just 18 total offensive snaps due to injury, and last year (his second) he saw just over 300. He was sidelined for a large portion of training camp last season and never really found his way into the rotation beyond that.
Now, there’s a new coaching staff in place, one that did not draft him, and several new faces in the position room including a steal of an undrafted free agent addition in Kansas State offensive lineman Easton Kilty. Saldiveri now has to battle not just for a role, but potentially for a roster spot.
Even beyond new additions, last year’s starting right tackle is now being moved to the position that many expected Saldiveri would be the favorite to man back in 2024 had it not been for his injury thrusting journeyman Lucas Patrick into the role. Penning’s aggressive play style and athleticism may make him perfectly suited for the left guard role, for which Saldiveri otherwise could have competed.
Why Saldiveri Has a Solid Chance
While he hasn’t seen much action in the regular season due to injuries, Saldiveri has been around for several changes in the offensive system. His versatility across positions and malleability to multiple schemes could help him catch on to head coach Kellen Moore’s offense quickly.
His role is likely to be that of a depth player, especially after the Penning move, but that is still a very valuable role for New Orleans after being plagued with injury across the unit last year.
Saldiveri also impressed in one of his games last season, finishing as one of the highest ranking players in the team’s costly loss to the Carolina Panthers in week nine.
The highest-graded Saints in Week 9 vs the Panthers:
🥇 Lucas Patrick – 84.6
🥈 Nick Saldiveri – 81.1
🥉 Jordan Howden – 79.7
🏅 Cesar Ruiz – 79.2
🏅 Alvin Kamara – 73.2 pic.twitter.com/KCD6jh8FTt— PFF NO Saints (@PFF_Saints) November 4, 2024
What Stands in Saldiveri’s Way
Health and new additions will be the offensive lineman’s biggest hurdles. With Penning getting a shot inside, the addition of veteran lineman Dillon Dadunz, the return of lineman Will Clapp and more additions along the lineup, Saldiveri has a lot of competition.
The re-signing of offensive lineman Landon Young is a big one as well. One of Saldiveri’s best traits is his versatility. He played tackle in college, center at the Senior Bowl ahead of his draft year and guard when he landed with New Orleans. But Young has also shown similar versatility throughout his development. While Saldiveri is still on his rookie contract, the new Saints’ coaching staff made the active decision to retain Young.
The road will only get harder for the young offensive lineman if he continues to struggle with his availability and health.
Saldiveri had a shoulder injury that kept him out for 11 games of his rookie year. Another shoulder injury sidelined him for a game in 2024 and a late-season knee injury wrapped up his season early. All of that following a calf injury that threatened most of his 2024 training camp.
Saldiveri will have a lot of competition for his roster spot and can’t battle it out if he’s not able to find himself on the field. Ideally, he curves his injury luck in 2025 and is able to give his all to fight for his job.
Prediction
Saldiveri will be fighting for a roster spot in 2025 thanks to new additions along the interior and the return of Young. There’s a strong chance he ends up with a practice squad role or headed to the open market.
More Vet Status
