By Ross Jackson
With rookies set to report for minicamp 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 out established veterans.
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 Trevor Penning
With the addition of first-round tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., the Saints offensive line is likely to see a shake up. Last season, Trevor Penning took a big step forward after shifting to right tackle. But that role could be in jeopardy if the Saints keep Banks at left tackle and slide Taliese Fuaga back to his natural spot on the right side.
Penning has shown improvement, however his spot on the line under a new coaching staff is far from secure. Training camp will be important to him in order to hold onto his starting position.
Why Penning Has a Solid Chance
As a first-round pick, no one is going to rush to pull Penning off the field. However, he’s done something very important for himself. He’s proven that he is coachable and can learn a different position.
The switch from left tackle to right tackle is no walk in the park for offensive lineman. Not only did Penning do so successfully last year, he combined the switch with demonstrable improvement.
Trevor Penning has become one of the 5 best run blocking right tackles in football this season. He’d also be my favorite for unofficial leader in pancakes pic.twitter.com/lpsrkE4XJx
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) November 18, 2024
A chance to potentially learn another position in 2025 could be exactly what keeps him in the starting lineup. Head coach Kellen Moore watched tackle Mehki Becton move into the interior with great success and contribute to the outstanding run game of the Philadelphia Eagles last year. Moore could look to do something similar with Penning.
What Stands in Penning’s Way
The Saints continue to wisely invest in their offensive line, which inherently creates competition. The team has used three first-round picks on tackles in the past four years, which is a clear indication of how they view the position and its importance going forward.
Penning will have competition even if he transitions to the interior thanks to the offseason addition of Dillon Radunz. It will all be about competition and learning a new position for Penning this year.
Prediction
Penning will be the starting left guard for the Saints. Which aligns well with the team passing on his fifth-year option. Instead of guaranteeing him first-round tackle money, they’ll be able to go to the negotiation table with guard money in view.
