It's no fault of his own, but the Erik McCoy's latest injury means the New Orleans Saints must prepare to explore all of their options at center. McCoy has done everything the Saints have asked of him and more. Injuries have just taken too great of a toll. McCoy has only finished a single 17-game regular season since the schedule expanded back in 2021, with injuries limiting him to seven games in both 2024 and 2025. He made it to eight games this year before going down.
Again, this isn't a knock on McCoy. Injuries happen in a physically-demanding sport like football. He's earned a captain's patch, a couple of Pro Bowls, and done a lot to help Tyler Shough's development while stepping up as a vocal leader and answering tough questions from the
media each week. But he's dealt with a biceps issue before (it ended his 2025 season) and it could become a recurring issue. His injury history includes groin surgery as well as elbow, shoulder, and calf ailments. These things tend to pile up.
So the Saints should begin exploring their options if they haven't already started. They've been spotted scouting 2027 draft prospects like Minnesota's Greg Johnson, who has experience at both center and guard. The 6-foot-6, 324-pounder snaps left handed and projects as a first-round pick. Luke Fortner should hit the market again after struggling to lock down the starting job with the Carolina Panthers. Whether they address the position through free agency or the draft, New Orleans needs more than insurance policy. They need a long-term plan for anchoring the middle of thee offensive line.
McCoy's 2027 salary cap hit is one of the highest on the team, at $17.9 million, and cutting or trading him wouldn't save any money before June 1 (and therefore, before free agency and the draft). It's also possible Cesar Ruiz does enough in McCoy's absence after moving from right guard and back to his college position that the Saints are comfortable leaning on him moving forwards. Ruiz is right there with McCoy on the ledger with a 2027 cap hit just under $16.3 million. Both offensive linemen will be free agents in 2028, when McCoy is 31 years old and Ruiz turns 29.
It's a tough situation to be in. Shough has shown the Saints can win games because he's their quarterback. They have already invested a ton of money and draft picks into the offensive line, but the center is the only player who touches the ball more often than the quarterback. They've got to get this right.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints must prepare to move on after center Erik McCoy's latest injury
