It’s easy to see the New Orleans Saints picking an offensive lineman early in the 2024 NFL draft — their blocking took a big step back in recent years, and the future for both of the starting tackle spots is uncertain between Trevor Penning’s lack of development on the left side and Ryan Ramczyk’s injury history on the right.
But the question is going to be: which offensive lineman is right for New Orleans? Penning’s too-slow growth makes another project seem worrisome. Ideally the Saints could find a young, pro-ready player who can step in for Ramczyk and hold down one side of the line for years to come. The trouble is there’s a very narrow list of prospects who meet that description.
One such name to know: JC Latham. The Alabama Crimson Tide right tackle went to the Saints in the latest 2024 mock draft from ESPN’s Jordan Reid. Latham, who turns 21 in February, has more career snaps played in pass protection (1,016) than other offensive linemen in this draft class have totaled on both run and pass plays. Here’s why Reid says he’s a fit:
“The Saints have historically shown commitment to the trenches in the early rounds, and considering that Trevor Penning hasn’t lived up to his first-round billing and Ryan Ramczyk battled knee injuries this season, offensive tackle should be a high priority in New Orleans. Latham is a massive 6-foot-5, 350-pound player with power at the point of attack and good quickness. He is a dominant run blocker, able to take away defenders quickly once he gets his hands on them. If he lands in a scheme that prioritizes downhill running, Latham has the potential to be a reliable starter.”
Latham certainly looks like New Orleans’ type, and his experience at a top-tier college program suggests he won’t need as much help acclimating to life in the NFL as Penning or other players the Saints have drafted from smaller schools. One concern about Latham is the health of his left knee; he needed help leaving the field after a collision on the final play in the Rose Bowl left him with an injury. That’s something we may not get an update on until later in the pre-draft process, so stay tuned.
