New Orleans Saints: Max Unger Needs a Neighbor

It’s easy to get excited about a guy like Max Unger coming to the Big Easy. With the recent trade of guard Ben Grubbs however, a hole remains where one of the Saints elite linemen once stood.

More from New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints 28 year old center Max Unger (yes, the other guy in The Trade) is a very good football player. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him the 4^th best run-blocker in the league despite missing 10 games to injury in 2014. Unger is also accountable to his quarterback, allowing only three sacks against Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson over as many seasons, per Pro Football Focus.

Wilson is a quarterback who, for all his skill and savvy, was sacked 42 times in 2014 – 6^th most among active quarterbacks (tied for 3^rd the season prior). The 2-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro center will be expected to assume the reins from veteran Jonathan Goodwin, 36, as the starting center in the Crescent City in 2015.

Meanwhile, amidst all the excitement and speculation of day three of free agency, the Saints quietly moved declining veteran All Pro guard Ben Grubbs to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 5^th round pick and $3.6 million in salary cap relief.

Sep 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; New Orleans Saints guard Ben Grubbs (66) against the Cleveland Browns defensive end Billy Winn (90) during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

PFF ranked the Saints offensive line 11^th in the NFL for 2014, and though the Saints were ranked 9^th in rushing, passing offense left much to be desired, ranked 20^th. A cursory review of the Saints roster highlights a dearth of experience at the guard position, naturally raising questions as to Grubbs’ successor opposite Jahri Evans for the 2015 campaign.

Guard-turned-center Tim Lelito could be the first consideration. An undrafted offensive lineman out of Grand Valley State, Lelito has shown promise in both run and pass blocking, though he has only had 4 starts in 32 games played.

Lelito played guard in college and despite some costly miscues in a couple games over his first two seasons, the Saints like Lelito and could see an expanded role for him in the coming season.

The remaining options specifically at guard are 3^rd year man Senio Kelemete out of Washington and 2^nd year Andrew Miller out of Virginia Tech. Kelemete has not had much success transitioning from tackle to guard and to my knowledge Miller has yet to play a snap in the NFL.

Sean Payton’s offensive line priorities clearly do not end with the acquisition of Unger, as outlined above. Of course, it is not unreasonable to think the Saints could slide tackle Nick Becton to the interior of the line, though I do not think this is the answer given the need for experience and deftness at the position, especially given the Saints newly apparent dedication to the run.

Unger himself is an option at guard with Lelito playing center, though it makes little sense to me that the Saints would preemptively bring in Grubbs’ successor for a guy like Jimmy Graham. The most logical approach failing confidence in Lelito to hold down guard next to Unger is to bring in talent via the NFL Draft. There are some intriguing options in linemen La’El Collins, LSU, Brandon Scherff, Iowa, and T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh, though it remains to be seen how the Saints will use the 3 picks they have within the top 45.

My guess is that the Saints will find young talent through the draft to complement their newly acquired star center and Unger won’t have to be lonely for long in the Big Easy.

Next: Don't trade Kenny Stills

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/New Orleans Saints