It is no great secret that the New Orleans Saints have some notable concerns on the offensive line in front of Derek Carr ahead of Week 1.
The big one circled in red ink is Trevor Penning at right tackle, with the former first-round pick struggling over the summer. That led to some noteworthy comments from onlookers, including Saints head coach Dennis Allen.
So what can the Saints do? Free agency might be an option, with Bleacher Report suggesting the team go after Halapoulivaati Vaitai in free agency:
“The Saints are thin on the offensive line which could be problematic as Derek Carr is known for struggling under pressure. Adding a veteran like Vaitai would be a smart move especially since he has experience playing both guard and tackle.”
Vaitai certainly isn’t the first free-agent lineman the Saints have been suggested to look at recently.
At this stage of his career, Vaitai would be an interesting insurance policy for the Saints behind the starters. He is 31 years old and needed to take a pay cut last year to stay with the Detroit Lions before appearing in just six games, then shifting to injured reserve due to a knee injury.
Signing a player like Vaitai now would be a smart long-term move for the Saints, as he’ll have time to get up to speed in the program before potentially being called upon. His versatility to play tackle or along the interior is a plus and, at this stage, wouldn’t harm the tricky cap situation all that much, either.
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