Report: Saints Not Picking Up Ruiz Option

New Orleans has made a decision on the contract of their 2020 first-round pick.

The New Orleans Saints have elected not to pick up the fifth-year option on the rookie contract of G Cesar Ruiz, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Not picking up the option means that Ruiz will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2023-24 NFL season. 

A first-round pick (24th overall) out of Michigan in 2020, Ruiz has appeared in 46 games over his three seasons with 40 starts. He was the only New Orleans offensive player to start all 17 contests in 2021. A center throughout college, he's been mostly at right guard for the Saints. 

Ruiz, who turns 24 in June, struggled in his first two years. He'd play his best football in year three under new offensive line coach Doug Marrone. Ruiz was arguably the team’s most consistent lineman in run blocking and pass protection before missing the last three games with a foot injury. 

Picking up the fifth-year option on Ruiz would have cost the Saints over $14.1 million against their 2024 salary cap. He'll count a little over $4 million against the cap in 2023. Spotrac.com estimates that Ruiz' next deal would be an average of $10.3 million per year.

Nov 21, 2021; New Orleans Saints guard Cesar Ruiz (51) blocks against the Philadelphia Eagles. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The team could still negotiate a long-term deal with him during the year to prevent him from hitting free agency. If they don't, New Orleans faces the possibility of losing both of their starting guards after this season. Left guard Andrus Peat is also in the final year of his contract. 

Versatile T/G James Hurst is an experienced starter both inside an outside. However, both Hurst and backup G Calvin Throckmorton are also in the last year of their respective contracts. 

New Orleans drafted Old Dominion offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri with the first choice in the fourth round last weekend. To get Saldiveri, the Saints traded two later Day 3 picks to move up to the 103rd overall selection. Saldiveri was primarily a right tackle in college, but is projected as a guard in the NFL.