The biggest storyline of the 2024 offseason for the New Orleans Saints has been the outlook of star offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk. Will he play in 2024? Will he ever play again due to his knee issue?
Saints insider Nick Underhill does not expect Ramczyk to play this season for New Orleans.
I'm currently not expecting him to play football https://t.co/Ybt4YJ2hE1
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) May 5, 2024
Underhill is one of the most trusted minds in Saints media. He’s built NOFNetwork, and they are flourishing for the latest info and great analysis.
The Saints have been concerned with Ramczyk’s injury status for months now. The realistic outlook on his knee is not a positive one, and his status for this season and beyond remains in doubt.
According to Ramczyk, there is not a lot of cartilage left in the injured knee. It’s a difficult problem to create a solution for, even in today’s age of medicine.
Dennis Allen warned folks about the process of Ramczyk’s recovery a month before the 2024 NFL Draft, too.
“I think it still remains to be seen. At the combine I was feeling a lot better about it, but there hasn’t been as much progress as I hoped for… I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions right now, but we’ll see how it goes over the next three, four, five, six months — whatever it is — before we get to the season.” — Saints HC Dennis Allen
Underhill also noted Ramczyk’s contract details. The escalators are stark, and he may not get the chance to earn them this year.
Here are the potential salary escalators Ramczyk can earn:
-$1 million for All Pro
-Up to $6 million in play-time incentives
-$1 million for 90% of the snaps AND a playoff win
-$1 million for Pro Bowl (starter or backup on initial roster)Max: $9 million https://t.co/pO1ksfNlzc
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) May 5, 2024
All in all, the Saints’ selection of Taliese Fuaga in round one of the draft becomes even more important now. If Underhill does not think Ramczyk plays in 2024, fans should not as of now, either.