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Ryan Ramczyk on rookie Cesar Ruiz: “He’s a smart player,” starting center week 1 “realistic”

The New Orleans Saints made a surprising pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, taking offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz out of the University of Michigan. After the pick, Saints head coach Sean Payton confirmed the team did not spend a first round pick on Ruiz for him to sit on the bench.

This perplexed many in Who Dat Nation as the offensive line already had five starters penciled in across the line. Then, the Saints surprisingly released Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford later in the offseason, and the path to playing time for Ruiz suddenly became clear.