Former Saints first-round pick Trevor Penning is finally trying out at guard

USA Today

22-05-2025

Former Saints first-round pick Trevor Penning is finally trying out at guard
Now that's interesting. The New Orleans Saints shared another video of quick cuts from organized team activities on Thursday, and NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill made a sharp-eyed observation. At one point the Saints were lining up Taliese Fuaga at right tackle with rookie draft pick Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle, and Trevor Penning at left guard. Fuaga and Banks were playing their college positions and Penning had moved inside.
It's tough to pinpoint where that is in the clip, which is full of rapid cuts, but during resistance band work the Saints had Fuaga at right tackle with Cesar Ruiz at right guard and Will Clapp at center, with Penning positioned but not participating to Clapp's left, but Banks wasn't shown. Second-year tackle Josiah Ezirim was next up in the group of observing linemen, which included Penning and Landon Young.
On paper, that would be the smartest way to get all three players on the field at positions they are best suited to. But it's something the Saints had been vocally resistant to. Both head coach Kellen Moore and his predecessor Dennis Allen had said they viewed Penning as a tackle, pointing to his improvement after moving to the right side. However, actions speak louder than words. For at least a little while Penning kicked inside at practice on Wednesday.
We'll see if it lasts. Guys move around often this time of the year to find where they can be most effective. Maybe that means Penning stays inside at guard where his physicality is more of an asset and his slow feet aren't as great a liability. That approach worked out for Andrus Peat, another former first-round pick who the Saints moved from left tackle to the right side before he settled in at left guard. Or maybe the Saints' concerns are validated and they prefer to have Penning playing right tackle. Banks was projected as a guard by some draft analysts and he could be the better fit at that spot of the two. If the rookie does end up starting inside before moving out to tackle later in his career (assuming Penning leaves in free agency next year), he'd be following the same path that guys like Laremy Tunsil took to reach five Pro Bowls.
OTAs and minicamp are about answering those questions. Practice time and what teams can do is heavily restricted here in May and June, and players won't even wear shoulder pads until training camp begins in late July. It's good that Penning is receptive to moving around to try and salvage his career, and that the Saints aren't as stubborn about keeping him at tackle as they have indicated when asked. We'll be watching to see if this new strategy works out for all involved.