After months of speculation, we finally found out who the New Orleans Saints picked in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft: Michigan center Cesar Ruiz. But why was he so highly regarded, and were the Saints right to target him to so early in the draft?
To find out, we surveyed a variety of scouting reports and draft guides from around the NFL’s orbit. Here’s what we learned.
One positive scouting report came from Dane Brugler at The Athletic, who ranked Ruiz the second-best center in the draft behind LSU’s Lloyd Cushenberry. Brugler praised Ruiz for his extensive starting experience and gift for understanding the game.