2 moves we still need to make
So, as long as we ignore their price, age, injury history and potential unwillingness to join the team, it's a slam dunk move to sign them!
Not to be negative, but the point that you made did cross my mind considering some of the OL that the Saints signed this offseason.
For example:
Shane Lemieux: On Monday Night Football on November 2, 2020 he started his first game at left guard for Will Hernandez who tested positive for COVID-19. Lemieux retained the starting position for the remainder of the season, replacing Hernandez at left guard, playing in 12 games with 9 starts as a rookie allowing 25 pressures and five sacks.[11]
On September 16, 2021,
Lemieux was placed on injured reserve after aggravating a knee injury in Week 1. On September 22, Lemieux underwent season-ending surgery to repair his left knee's patella tendon. Lemieux was the 2nd Giants offensive lineman to be announced out for the season, following Nick Gates' injury in Week 2's Thursday Night Football.
On August 11, 2022,
Lemieux injured his toe in week 1 of the preseason against the New England Patriots. He was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2022. On November 19, he was activated from injured reserve. On December 28, Lemieux was placed on season–ending injured reserve after aggravating his toe injury in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions. He finished the season playing in 39 offensive snaps, Lemieux’s struggles continued, allowing five pressures and a sack.
On October 19, 2023,
the Giants placed Lemieux on injured reserve after tearing his biceps in practice. He finished the season playing in 27 snaps and allowed just one pressure.
Lucas Patrick: Patrick spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears and started 15 games at center because of injuries. He allowed 25 hurries, 2 quarterback hits, and no sacks in 953 snaps.
He started five games for the Bears as a reserve guard in 2022, playing both left and right guard
before a toe injury cost him the final 10 games of the season.
1/6/2024:
The Bears have placed center Lucas Patrick on injured reserve, sidelining him for Sunday’s game. Patrick appeared in 16 games this season, which included 15 starts, where he played primarily at center. He landed on the injury report Friday with a calf injury, and he was dubbed questionable against the Packers.
Olisaemeka Udoh: Vikings offensive tackle
Oli Udoh will miss the remainder of the 2023 season with a torn quad tendon, head coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed after Thursday's game against the Eagles.
Justin Herron: Herron was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round, with the 195th overall pick of the
2020 NFL draft.
[4] He was placed on injured reserve on October 31, 2020 with an ankle injury. He was activated on November 28.
On September 21, 2022, the Patriots traded Herron and a 2024 seventh-round draft pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick.[9]
He suffered a torn ACL in practice and was placed on injured reserve on October 7.
It seems the Saints shopped the bargain basement for serviceable yet often or recently injured players, some with upside IF they can stay healthy. I guess that is necessary considering the team is trying to right the ship regarding the cap, yet it is so risky when trying to remain competitive.
I think that Lemieux, Patrick and especially Udoh can be nice additions and potential starters. The question is how long they can stay on the field. Hopefully, Penning and Saldiveri work out well, and we don't have to find out. Then again, we have a couple of rookies that I find intriguing: Josiah Ezirim, and this Kyle Hergel kid. Both will likely take time to develop, and I am interested in seeing them at TC. We could use a diamond in the rough.