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The Saints kicked off the third day of the 2023 NFL Draft by trading up to select Old Dominion offensive tackle Nick Saldiveri with the first pick in the fourth round. While General Manager Mickey Loomis has never been shy about trading up to get his guy, Saldiveri’s old college coach believes there was a reason the team was extra aggressive this time around.
College Coach: Saints Have High Hopes For Nick Saldiveri
Ricky Rahne Speaks Out
Speaking to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Old Dominion head coach Ricky Rahne said that “[t]he Saints trading up to get Nick [Saldiveri] says a lot about what they thought.”
Rahne is right, as actions do speak louder than words, and the Saints made a pretty aggressive trade to secure Saldiveri’s services. The team gave up a fifth-round pick just to move up 11 spots in the fourth round, which is a pretty hefty price if you’re looking at a trade value chart.
However, those types of charts are based on aggregate value – if the Saints truly believe that Nick Saldiveri can be a franchise offensive lineman, then this trade will look like a steal.
For what it’s worth, Saldiveri has already proven himself capable of impressing a coaching staff. The Old Dominion product earned All-Conference honors in two separate leagues, and he also played well enough to impress current head coach Ricky Rahne. Saldiveri originally joined Old Dominion under a previous regime, yet he still kept his starting job even when a new coach with no preconceived notions about his ability joined the organization.
Welcome to NOLA Nick Saldiveri!!!pic.twitter.com/1D1E71EqvT
— Boot Krewe Media (@BootKreweMedia) April 29, 2023
How Nick Saldiveri Fits the New Orleans Saints
Quite frankly, it’s easy to see why the Saints could be enamored with a prospect like Nick Saldiveri. New Orleans had one of the worst offensive lines in football last year, and while most of their issues lay on the interior, there is no denying that they could use more depth at tackle.
2022 first-round pick Trevor Penning missed the majority of his rookie season to injury, and he didn’t look particularly great when he was on the field. It’s far too early to give up on him, but the Saints are wise to bring in a backup plan. While somebody like Isaiah Wynn might provide a higher floor, Nick Saldiveri is a good fit for what the Saints like to do.
Saldiveri is at his best getting to the second level in the run game and setting up as a screen blocker. While this type of player doesn’t fit with every scheme, he should be a great fit for this offense. The Saints love running screens, and they’ve invested so much in the running back potion that we can safely assume that they want establish a better rushing attack in 2023.
At 6’-6” and 316 pounds, the Old Dominion product has the size to play tackle in the NFL, and his surprisingly agile movements give him the potential to be a starter. The biggest problem with Saldiveri is his relative lack of strength, but that’s a fixable issue, especially with his build. In the short term, Nick Saldiveri can be the Saints backup tackle and fill in at either position in case of injury. However, if Trevor Penning isn’t up for the starting job, then Saldiveri should be able to do an adequate job in relief.
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