Who? The New Orleans Saints traded up to the top of Round 4 so they could pick Nick Saldiveri and add him to the offensive line depth chart. But who is he, and why did they value him so highly?
A former two-star recruit from Waxhaw, N.C., Saldiveri started 35 of the 38 games he played at Old Dominion, only missing two games in his college career (once for injury, later for illness). He didn’t allow a single sack last year and blocked well in space, paving the way for the school’s run-first offense.
More than 2,200 of his snaps came at right tackle but he also has experience at right guard, and he tried out at center during Senior Bowl practices earlier this year. He can back up multiple spots while preparing to start, likely at guard, where his rare movement skills can shine while his substandard length is minimized.
And he’s a fantastic athlete for his size. Saldiveri weighed in at 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds but posted a 9.47 Relative Athletic Score among offensive tackles; that number improves to 9.84 among guards. The Saints don’t use RAS but their in-house analytics line up very closely with it, and they consistently draft prospects who post high-end athletic scores.
Beyond his starting experience and impressive athletic traits, Saldiveri has other qualities that make him an on-brand Saints draft pick. He was voted a team captain and was noted for his vocal leadership skills and need for accountability. He competed hard at the Senior Bowl, which is an all-star event the Saints often use to scout talent. They have a strong history of drafting small-school offensive linemen like Terron Armstead (Arkansas Pine-Bluff), Jermon Bushrod (Towson), Jahri Evans (Bloomsburg), and last year’s first-round pick Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa). Saldiveri is cut from similar cloth.
