The Draft Network’s Justin Melo reports that the New Orleans Saints are one of multiple teams catching up with Florida Gators right guard O’Cyrus Torrence before his school’s pro day this week, and it’s easy to see why: if an interior offensive lineman is going to be picked in the first round this year, it’s probably Torrence.
He’s played at a high level both at right guard (with Florida) and at left guard (earlier in his career at Louisiana-Lafayette) in college, and he’s done well enough in the pre-draft process to continue to earn first-round consideration. Melo also lists the Titans and Falcons as teams meeting with Torrence before his next workout, with the Steelers, Commanders, and Bills having scheduled private facilities visits later in April.
Do the Saints need to draft a guard that high? Probably not, but it doesn’t hurt to do their homework in case Torrence is the best player available at No. 29. Both Cesar Ruiz and Andrus Peat could leave in free agency next offseason and it would make sense to invest in a replacement plan too soon than scramble to address the problem too late. Torrence’s ability to man either spot is a big boon. The Saints have bigger fish to fry, but they’ve surprised us on draft day before.
