Luke Fortner Steadies the Saints’ Interior Amid O-Line Chaos
Let’s not sugarcoat it - the New Orleans Saints’ offensive line has been a problem for the better part of two seasons. The interior, in particular, has been a revolving door of inconsistency, underperformance, and injuries. Guard play has been a glaring weakness, and the absence of Erik McCoy - one of the NFL’s more underappreciated centers - only made things worse.
McCoy’s durability issues have been a real blow to the Saints' offensive cohesion. He managed just seven games in 2024, and history repeated itself in 2025 when a torn biceps ended his year prematurely after, again, only seven appearances. When McCoy’s not anchoring the middle, the drop-off is impossible to ignore - both in pass protection and in the run game.
Enter Luke Fortner.
The Saints made a late preseason move in 2025, trading defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to the Jaguars for Fortner - a fourth-year lineman with versatility and starting experience. Drafted in the third round by Jacksonville back in 2022, Fortner had logged 34 consecutive starts at center and guard before arriving in New Orleans.
At the time, it looked like a depth move. Turns out, it was a lifeline.
Fortner’s 2025 Snapshot
- Position: Center
- Age: 27
- Height/Weight: 6’4”, 307 lbs
- NFL Experience: 4 seasons (1st with Saints)
- 2025 Season: 17 games played, 10 starts
Fortner barely saw the field early in the season - just six offensive snaps through the first six games. But everything changed in Week 7 against Chicago, when McCoy went down again.
From that point on, Fortner stepped in and didn’t miss a snap the rest of the way. In fact, over the final 10 games, he was the only Saints offensive lineman to play every single offensive snap.
That kind of availability matters - especially for a unit that’s struggled to find continuity.
Not McCoy, But More Than Serviceable
Let’s be clear: Fortner isn’t Erik McCoy. He doesn’t have the same raw power or technical polish.
But what he brought to the table was stability. He held up reasonably well in pass protection and showed solid finesse as a run blocker.
In a year where the Saints were getting overwhelmed inside - especially at guard, where Dillon Radunz and Cesar Ruiz struggled mightily - Fortner was a steadying presence.
He wasn’t flashy, but he was reliable. And for a team desperate for consistency up front, that was a win.
What’s Next?
Fortner hits free agency in March, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Saints try to keep him in the building. With McCoy’s injury history, having a capable backup - or even a short-term starter - who knows the system and has starting experience is a smart play. The Saints clearly need to address the guard spots this offseason, but Fortner gives them some breathing room at center.
If the price is right, bringing Fortner back makes a lot of sense. He may not be a long-term solution, but in a season where the offensive line was constantly in flux, he proved he can be part of the answer - even if it's just as a dependable next man up.