Saints wise to go big with Ramczyk investment

Many were willing to admit it. They were not thrilled with the first-round selection of Ryan Ramczyk in 2017.

The reactions on social media, via e-mails I received for CrescentCitySports.com and through phone calls to my radio shows were largely indifferent, inquisitive, inconclusive or simply inappropriate in terms of judging the selection of Ramczyk with the 32nd pick overall.

Lines such as, “who is he?” or “what are they doing?” to “why do we need a tackle?” were prevalent.

As Ramczyk, a humble, low-key, modest man might say, if he exposed his truest thoughts to the questions and criticism, “how do you like me now?”

Suffice it to say that the Saints did their homework and did it remarkably well.

All Ramczyk has done is attain All-Pro status for three consecutive seasons (first team in 2019, second team in 2018 and 2020).

Ramczyk was the classic case of picking the best player possible, the best player on the board, rather than picking for need.

The New Orleans Saints were not in a terrible position of need at right tackle in 2017.

Zach Strief was a returning starter who had started every game in 2016 and had done a solid job.

Unfortunately, Strief suffered an injured knee after starting the first two games of the season and would not return.

Ramczyk was pushed into a starting role as soon as he arrived in New Orleans, due to an injury to Terron Armstead on the left side. He would not be supplanted.

Now, his income has been supplemented in sensational fashion, per a five-year extension worth up to $96 million, including $60 million in guaranteed money.

Ramczyk has been a stalwart and he has proven to be extremely durable, starting all but one game in four seasons and postseasons since he arrived in New Orleans. He missed one game in 2018.

By all measurables, Ramczyk is ranked among the top five overall tackles in the NFL, left or right tackles. So is his running mate, Armstead, giving the Saints the unquestioned best tackle-tandem in the league.

In 2019, Pro Football Focus graded Ramczyk at 90.8, placing him first overall among tackles in the NFL. In its same analysis, PFF called Ramczyk the most valuable tackle in the NFL since he entered the league in 2017 and by what it calls a “substantial” margin.

Pro Football Focus ranks Ramczyk at 1.38 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), a huge compliment to his skill and a huge statement about what happens when he is absent from the lineup.

Since PFF began grading tackles in 2006, only former Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas produced a higher overall grade in his first four seasons in the league.

The investment made in Ramczyk was sound, solid, superb.

He is a bedrock, a benchmark, a brilliant player and piece the puzzle of positioning the organization for future success.

At 27, Ramczyk is still young and, a scary thought, he may not have reached his peak performance yet.

With Drew Brees gone, with all four running backs returning and with a good offensive line full of high draft picks, the Saints could and should focus more on the running game, as CCS analysts have opined recently:

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Mickey Loomis, Sean Payton and Jeff Ireland had difficult choices to make.

It was tough seeing Thomas Morstead, Trey Hendrickson, Janoris Jenkins, Emanuel Sanders, Sheldon Rankins, Malcom Brown, Kwon Alexander, even Jared Cook go. Financial reality hit and hit hard with the salary cap and league rules and tough decisions and moves were made. Maybe there is a door slightly ajar for Alexander in the future at a reduced price if he proves healthy.

Marcus Williams is here for another year, via the franchise tag. Marcus Davenport and Tre’Quan Smith have a year to prove themselves. Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill have a year to seize the starting quarterback job, prove themselves or watch someone else get that chance. More tough decisions will have to be made.

There is a level of trust with the brain trust of the organization, based on the scorecard and results of previous decisions made since 2015.

Investing in Ramczyk was an easy decision to make with hard dollars attached. Barring injury, the investment will likely return with huge interest as Saints fans see their interest peaked by the peak performance of the best right tackle in the NFL.