Under the guidance of new head coach Kellen Moore, the New Orleans Saints' offense showed promising growth by the end of the 2025 season. A key player in this development was rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who, along with solid performances from the tackles and wide receiver Chris Olave, brought some excitement back to the team. However, as the Saints head into the offseason, there are clear areas that need improvement.
One glaring issue has been the interior of the offensive line. The Saints faced a significant setback when center Erik McCoy was sidelined for the year before mid-season.
They also traded Trevor Penning after a less-than-stellar start, and neither of their replacements managed to shine. A deeper dive into the 2025 season reveals that right guard Cesar Ruiz, who played a significant role, struggled throughout.
Cesar Ruiz: A Season in Review
Position: Right Guard
Age: 26
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 316 lbs
NFL Experience: 6 years with the Saints
2025 Season: 14 games (14 starts)
Among the New Orleans offensive linemen, only rookie first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr. logged more snaps than Ruiz, who played 846 offensive snaps across 14 games, with an additional 45 on special teams. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives end for Ruiz's 2025 season-and perhaps his entire tenure with the Saints.
Ruiz managed to avoid penalties for holding, but that might be attributed to his struggles in executing blocks-an essential duty for any offensive lineman. His performance in pass protection was notably poor, and his run-blocking wasn’t much better. Opponents frequently targeted Ruiz with inside pass rushes, contributing to the Saints ranking 28th in rushing offense.
A first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft from Michigan, Ruiz has often been seen as a liability. Despite this, parting ways with him this offseason seems unlikely.
Ruiz is under contract through 2027, with a daunting dead cap hit of over $16.8 million if released. Even a post-June 1 release would still cost nearly $7.5 million in dead cap money, with more financial implications stretching over the next few years due to contract restructures.
The Saints face a tough decision with Ruiz as they look to build a more formidable offensive line for the future.