Trevor Penning is quite the intriguing situation for the New Orleans Saints in 2024. He's projected to start at a tackle spot. That was the case in 2023, too. This time, his biggest chance is to grab the starting right tackle for New Orleans. He has played on the left side for most of his NFL reps.
The Saints simply need more from the former first-round selection. He has not been impressive when healthy. It sounds like that may change in 2024, though.
Trevor Penning sounds confident about moving to RT for the Saints.
Penning has played a "swing tackle" role for most of his time in the pros. Accordingly, he's practiced some on each side, but most of his reps came on the left side until this offseason. He started the 2023 season with that job but was benched shortly after due to struggles.
With the addition of rookie OT Taliese Fuaga, Penning is the primary focus at RT as of now.
That may change, but the Saints are confident that Fuaga can be their LT of the future to protect the quarterback's blind side for years to come. The rookie played mostly RT in college but is embracing the new challenge, too.
As for Penning, he must stay healthy in 2024.
He's struggled with injuries and inconsistencies to begin his NFL career since being a first-round pick. There's more pressure on him this year with the mystery of Ryan Ramczyk's availability, but Penning is not backing down.
"I mean it's not as much as you would probably think because the whole offseason we trained down in Frisco with Duke Manyweather, we trained both sides so it's already kind of been you know I've kind of been there already we worked on that down there like 50-50 pretty much so it's not to much of a change." -- Penning on the swap
Hopefully, he can redirect his career under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The scheme change could do wonders for the young lineman.
