The countdown to the New Orleans Saints 2024 regular season kickoff is underway as we highlight every player who wears the corresponding jersey number of the day. With now 74 days remaining before the Saints’ Week 1 game against the Carolina Panthers, offensive lineman Olisaemeka Udoh is today’s Saints Player of the Day.
Let’s talk about his objectives for 2024 and how important his play will be in the weeks leading up to the season.
- Name (Age): Oli Udoh (27)
- Position: Offensive guard/tackle
- Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 320 pounds
- Relative Athletic Score: 8.14
- 2024 salary cap hit: $2,000,000
- College: Elon
- Drafted: 6th round in 2019 (Minnesota Vikings)
- NFL experience: 6 years
Udoh started 18 games for the Minnesota Vikings over a 5-year period after being selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft. In 2021, he started 16 games (14 at right guard, two at left tackle) allowing only one sack that season. This would be the same season where new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak spent his lone year calling plays for the Vikings.
As far as his role with the team, Udoh is expected to compete for a starting job, possibly at right tackle along with former first-round pick Trevor Penning. Although the team would much rather prefer Penning to start in terms of their investments, Udoh was brought in to be a guy with starting experience who you can plug in if needed. He’s also a candidate to push Nick Saldiveri at left guard.
If not as a starter, Udoh will likely play the role as the team’s swing tackle/guard. Similar to Andrus Peat’s role last season before he ended up as the teams starter by seasons end. Much of this will be decided during training camp as the team heads to Irvine, Calif. in July. With the uncertainty at the right tackle position still looming, Udoh’s play in these next couple months will be extremely crucial for the outlook of this team.
