I’m inclined to think the Saints would ideally like to leave this draft w/ Bowers

Ideally, they don't want to go into the season with a rookie on the offensive line. I listened to an interview with ML before last season and he was discussing the amount of change on the O-line and how even changing 1 player made a huge difference to the line learning how to play together, the time it takes and the lack of practice/game time to really gell. Add in changing more than 1 player and a rookie in there and it takes a long time. Based on that discussion combined with how the line started to play better down the stretch, the change in scheme, it is looking more like they will draft Ram's replacement and Penning will be the LT, new player at LG, McCoy, Ruiz, Ram for the rest. Peat as insurance.

I mean, if they really don't want to change the line due to continuity, why didn't they already sign Peat to start at LT?

I understand Mickey's point of view, but with the Ram injury and losing your staring LT in Peat, the entire line is going to have to change anyway. And, given that we are moving to a new scheme which will require starting all over in learning to play together, now is a good time to get better/young talent on the OL and let them learn together.