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Ryan Ramczyk

Saints Rework Ryan Ramczyk’s Deal

December 3rd, 2021 at 10:08am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have restructured Ryan Ramczyk‘s contract (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). Now, the right tackle will have a portion of his base salary converted into a fully guaranteed roster bonus for 2022. The move will provide the Saints with an extra $242K in cap room for this year.

[RELATED: Saints Place Kpassagnon On IR]

Ramczyk inked a five-year, $96MM extension with the Saints over the Summer, a mega-deal with $60MM in guarantees. The original agreement also gave the Saints some sorely needed breathing room — his fifth-year option would have carried a hit of $11MM for 2021; the extension tamped it down to $5.5MM. The restructure lowers the hit even further, allowing the Saints to bring in outside help if even more injuries arise.

Ramczyk’s $19.2MM AAV positions him as the NFL’s highest-paid right tackle. It was something of a no-brainer for the Saints — Ramczyk won’t turn 28 until April and he’s performed as one of the best blockers in the league throughout his career.

Unfortunately, Ramczyk has been sidetracked by injuries this year — both he and Alvin Kamara were held out of last night’s game to the Cowboys, a 27-17 loss that dropped the Saints to 5-7 on the year.

Saints’ Alvin Kamara To Miss Week 13

December 2nd, 2021 at 9:11am CST by Sam Robinson

Alvin Kamara managed three limited practices for the Saints this week, but the Pro Bowl running back is not set to return for Thursday night’s game against the Cowboys.

The Saints are planning to rule out Kamara and tackles Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk for another game, Ian Rapoport and Jane Slater of NFL.com note (on Twitter). This will be Kamara’s fourth straight absence.

New Orleans did not put Kamara on IR, keeping him on its active roster in hopes he would not need a three-week absence. The knee injury the fifth-year back suffered in early November, however, has resulted in by far the longest absence of his career. Prior to being held out of the Saints’ Week 10 game, Kamara had only missed four games in four seasons.

Without Kamara, the Saints are 0-3 this season. They have lost four consecutive games. Although Taysom Hill is in line to replace Trevor Siemian as the Saints’ starter, the dual-threat quarterback will be without essential personnel against the Cowboys. Armstead and Ramczyk, who have formed a top-tier tackle tandem since 2017, are also battling knee injuries. Armstead is a free agent at season’s end, while the Saints have locked up Ramczyk and Kamara long-term.

Kamara led the NFL with 21 touchdowns last season, helping the Saints stay in gear despite Michael Thomas missing extensive time. Thomas will not play at all this season, and after Kamara’s 840 scrimmage yards had him on pace to set a new career-high, the latter Saints playmaker will fall well short of that mark this season. Although Drew Brees‘ retirement was going to make an impact regardless, injuries have limited the Saints considerably this season. They rank 18th in scoring offense and are looking likely to finish outside the top 10 in points for the first time since 2010.

Details On Ryan Ramczyk’s Saints Extension

July 2nd, 2021 at 9:59am CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints now have a third offensive lineman signed to a high-end extension, with Ryan Ramczyk joining Terron Armstead and Andrus Peat as well-paid starters on a team with five first-rounders on its starting O-line. Multiple interesting details surfaced about Ramczyk’s deal Friday.

This five-year, $96MM pact will reduce Ramczyk’s 2021 cap number by $5.55MM, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Previously set to play on a fifth-year option salary worth just more than $11MM, Ramczyk’s cap number is down to $5.5MM. The Saints now have $11.4MM in cap space, according to OverTheCap, putting them 15th in the NFL in early July. They have come a long way from being more than $100MM over the cap earlier this year.

[RELATED: Saints Likely To Extend Either Marshon Lattimore Or Marcus Williams]

One component of Ramczyk’s deal generates intrigue about New Orleans’ future at the tackle position. The contract includes a $1MM bonus should Ramczyk be named a first- or second-team All-Pro at left tackle, Yates tweets. If Ramczyk earns this bonus, his salary balloons by $1MM in each subsequent year. He has earned first- or second-team All-Pro honors three times in four seasons at right tackle. While $6MM in incentives would be available, it would seem Ramczyk would not have a chance to trigger this escalator until at least 2022. Armstead is a free agent next year.

The Saints drafted Ramczyk in the 2017 first round, after he started 14 games at left tackle for Wisconsin. The former Division III recruit played one season of Division I football and has started all 63 games of his career at right tackle. Although the Saints invest highly in O-linemen and have consistently found ways to skirt salary cap trouble, having both Ramczyk and Armstead on top-tier tackle contracts would be an interesting scenario.

Armstead’s $13MM-per-year deal voids in March 2022, making him a free agent. The longtime Saints left tackle will turn 30 later this month, but Trent Williams just set a tackle record with a $23MM-per-year deal just ahead of his 33rd birthday. A Pro Bowler in each of the past three years, Armstead will be aiming high on his third contract. Williams is one of four left tackles whose deals surpass Ramczyk’s.

Regardless of which tackle position Ramczyk will settle at long-term, he is tied to the Saints through 2026. A $19MM signing bonus is part of Ramczyk’s $60MM in guarantees, and Yates adds the first two salaries on this backloaded deal will be $1.7MM (2021) and $10.5MM (’22). Ramczyk will make $14MM in base salary in 2023, with the rest of his salaries being north of $17MM. The deal’s final two years are non-guaranteed, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noting the 2023 and ’24 seasons feature partial guarantees.

Saints Likely To Extend At Least One Of Marshon Lattimore, Marcus Williams

June 30th, 2021 at 9:03pm CST by Rory Parks

The Saints crossed a key item off their 2021 agenda earlier today by agreeing to a massive extension with right tackle Ryan Ramczyk. With that deal done, New Orleans can now turn its attention to the contract situations of several of its other high-profile talents.

Katherine Terrell of The Athletic writes that the Saints are likely to extend at least one of CB Marshon Lattimore and S Marcus Williams this summer. As Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com tweets, the Ramczyk extension cleared roughly $5.5MM off the club’s books for the 2021 season, so a Lattimore or Williams extension isn’t necessarily vital for cap purposes (plus, since Lattimore’s fifth-year option for this season was already restructured, an extension for him wouldn’t create more cap room anyway). But both players are integral pieces of DC Dennis Allen‘s defense, and the Saints would certainly like to keep them for the long haul if they can.

The problem is that New Orleans is already projected to be over the 2022 cap of $208.2MM, and GM Mickey Loomis might not be able to re-sign both of his young defenders. Terrell says Lattimore has always seemed like the higher priority, and as he plays a premium position and has three Pro Bowls to his credit, he will certainly be more expensive. On the other hand, he does not always play up to his potential, and Pro Football Focus’ metrics considered him the 70th-best corner out of 121 qualifiers last year. A March arrest could also complicate matters.

Loomis, though, has more time to talk contract with Lattimore than he does with Williams. As a franchise-tagged player, Williams cannot sign a multi-year deal after July 15. Given the Saints’ cap crunch, there was a belief that the team would not be able to retain the Utah product this year, let alone hit him with a franchise tag that carries a $10.6MM cap charge. The fact that Loomis made the financials work might be an indication of the team’s long-term outlook for Williams, who did well to clean up his one glaring weakness (his tackling abilities) in 2020.

In addition to Lattimore and Williams, left tackle Terron Armstead is also entering a contract year (his deal automatically voids in 2022). Terrell says it’s unclear what the Saints have in mind for their longtime blindside protector, but he will not come cheap either. We just saw soon-to-be 33-year-old Trent Williams pull down a $23MM/year deal, and Terrell suggests that Armstead — who will turn 30 in a few weeks — could shoot for a similar figure. With Ramcyzk now carrying a $19.2MM AAV and left guard Andrus Peat working on a $15MM/year pact, that would be a ton of money invested into the O-line.

We heard earlier this year that the Saints could let Armstead walk next offseason and shift Ramczyk to left tackle, and Terrell says that remains a possibility. Still, one would think that New Orleans will at least have serious discussions with Armstead about continuing what has been a very fruitful partnership.

Saints, Ryan Ramczyk Agree On Extension

June 30th, 2021 at 10:33am CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints now have another member of their impact 2017 draft class committed long-term. Ryan Ramczyk agreed to terms on a five-year, $96MM extension Wednesday morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).

This megadeal comes with $60MM in guarantees, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), and will tie Ramczyk to the Saints through the 2026 season. This checks a key offseason box for the Saints, who now have Ramczyk and Alvin Kamara signed to top-market deals from their 2017 class.

Ramczyk’s $19.2MM AAV makes him the NFL’s highest-paid right tackle. He eclipses the Eagles’ Lane Johnson, who held this distinction for nearly two years. Ramczyk’s $60MM guarantee also surpasses Johnson’s ($55MM). Among right tackles, only Ramczyk and Johnson have guarantees surpassing $35MM.

Extending the All-Pro blocker loomed as New Orleans’ top offseason priority, even though Marshon Lattimore is also going into a contract year. With Ramczyk locked down, it will be interesting to see how the Saints proceed with the Pro Bowl cornerback. Lattimore (Round 1) and Marcus Williams (Round 2) are in contract years from the ’17 class. The Saints let breakout pass rusher Trey Hendrickson (Round 3) defect to the Bengals in free agency.

The Saints chose Ramczyk with the pick acquired in the first Brandin Cooks trade (No. 32 overall, from the Patriots) and plugged the Wisconsin prospect into their starting lineup opposite Terron Armstead. Ramcyzk became a quick study and has started all 63 games he’s played as a pro. While the ex-Badger blocker is without a Pro Bowl, that is not uncommon; right tackles are often overlooked for such honors. Pro Football Focus graded Ramczyk as a top-10 overall tackle in each of his first three seasons and slotted him first in 2019. Last season marked a step back, via PFF, but Ramczyk still graded 20th among edge protectors.

Ramczyk, 27, proved vital during Drew Brees‘ final seasons and will certainly play a pivotal role in Jameis Winston and/or Taysom Hill‘s success under center. The Saints, whose entire starting O-line consists of former first-round picks, now have Ramczyk, Armstead and guard Andrus Peat signed to veteran contracts. Armstead, however, is due for free agency in 2022. Moving Ramczyk to left tackle after this season could be a viable scenario, should the Saints move on from Armstead. Ramczyk’s average salary would rank fifth among left tackles.

Saints Prioritizing Ryan Ramczyk Extension

May 28th, 2021 at 9:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Four members of the Saints’ loaded 2017 draft class remain on the team, though only Alvin Kamara is locked up beyond this season. The Saints have Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk and Marcus Williams signed this year, via the fifth-year option and the franchise tag.

New Orleans has until July 15 to extend Williams this year but holds uninterrupted negotiating rights with Ramczyk and Lattimore until next year’s legal tampering period. As of now, the Saints’ extension queue looks to have Ramczyk at the top. The standout right tackle is the team’s top priority to retain long-term, Jeff Duncan of The Athletic notes (subscription required).

The prospect of Ramczyk and Lattimore extensions surfaced in March, but Saints GM Mickey Loomis managed to slash the team’s payroll under this year’s reduced cap with the option prices and Williams’ tag on the books. An extension would obviously give the team some additional room, but Duncan notes Terron Armstead‘s status complicates Ramczyk’s situation. With Armstead going into his age-30 season and in a contract year, Ramczyk is also a candidate to move to left tackle in 2022 — if the Saints do not extend Armstead.

Given the gap that has formed between left tackle and right tackle salaries — a $5MM gulf between the highest-paid left and right tackles — the Ramczyk extension talks will be interesting. Lane Johnson‘s $18MM-per-year deal, agreed to in 2019, remains the only right tackle contract north of $14MM annually. A three-time first- or second-team All-Pro who at 27 is four years younger than Johnson, Ramcyzk is certainly a candidate to bridge the left tackle-right tackle gap.

The urgency to reach an extension pact this year does not seem to exist with Lattimore, Duncan adds. The Pro Bowl cornerback is two years younger than Ramczyk and has been a key piece in the Saints’ defensive turnaround of the past few years. Although Lattimore was arrested earlier this year, he has been a four-year starter and could land on the franchise tag radar in 2022. Since Lattimore first became extension-eligible after the 2019 season, the cornerback market has changed considerably. The market went from no players earning more than $16MM annually to five making that much; Jalen Ramsey and Marlon Humphrey now earn north of $19MM per year. This spike in corner salaries should complicate Lattimore talks.

Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk Extensions On Saints’ Radar

March 8th, 2021 at 3:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Continuing to make progress in their pursuit of cap compliance, the Saints have identified two higher-profile moves they would like to make. The team wants to extend Marshon Lattimore and/or Ryan Ramczyk, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link).

After trimming more than $20MM in cap space over the past week, the Saints are still nearly $50MM over the $180MM mark that doubles as the floor for the 2021 cap. Extensions for their 2017 first-round picks would help on this front, as they would reduce the 2017 draftees’ cap numbers. Each is set to play next season on a fifth-year option salary.

But it will be interesting to see if the Saints can hammer out a top-market extension amid this time crunch. Two extensions in this span would be highly unlikely. Both players are extension targets, but the franchise might be targeting just one in the coming days and potentially completing the other’s deal later. The Saints are not believed to be close with either Lattimore or Ramczyk, Rapoport adds.

The Saints completed top-market extensions for Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara late in the past two summers. Lattimore and Ramczyk qualify as players who will also push to secure their respective position’s top salary. Ramczyk is set to earn just more than $11MM this season; Lattimore is attached to a $10.2MM fifth-year option salary. The Saints have until March 17 to move under the cap.

Extensions for Tre’Davious White, Marlon Humphrey and Jalen Ramsey transformed a stagnant cornerback market last year; each earns at least $17MM annually. White and Ramsey pushed the corner ceiling north of $19MM per year. Ramczyk’s talks may be more complicated. Deals for Laremy Tunsil and David Bakhtiari — each now attached to deals worth at least $22MM annually — have left tackles holding a big lead on right tackles financially. Lane Johnson ($18MM AAV) and Trent Brown ($16.5MM) are the only right tackles making more than $14MM per year, and the Raiders are shopping Brown. New Orleans’ right tackle starter since his 2017 rookie season, Ramczyk has been one of the NFL’s best tackles since his rookie year.

Saints Exercise 2021 Options On Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk

March 19th, 2020 at 8:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have exercised their 2021 fifth-year options on cornerback Marshon Lattimore and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Lattimore and Ramczyk become the first members of the 2017 draft class to have their options picked up, and are also the first to have their options fully guaranteed. Under the terms of the new contractual bargaining agreement, fifth-year options — which are available for all first-round picks and had previously been guaranteed for injury only — are now guaranteed for injury, cap, and skill purposes.

Part of a 2017 Saints draft class that also included Alvin Kamara and Marcus Williams, Lattimore and Ramczyk have quickly become essential cogs for New Orleans. Lattimore has started 43 games and posted eight interceptions over his first three years in the NFL, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 and Pro Bowl nods in both 2017 and 2019.

Ramcyzk, meanwhile, has only missed one contest since entering the league and is arguably the NFL’s premier right tackle. Indeed, Pro Football Focus graded the former Wisconsin Badger as the league’s No. 1 offensive tackle — even including those that play on the blindside — in 2019. Both he and Lattimore should be in for hefty extensions in the near future.

NFC Notes: Saints, Cards, Bears, Packers

July 25th, 2017 at 9:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

With left tackle Terron Armstead is set to miss a portion of the 2017 season after undergoing labrum surgery, the Saints would prefer to place Ryan Ramczyk or Khalif Barnes on the blindside instead of shifting Andrus Peat from left guard, according to Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com. Barnes is the far more experienced option, as the 35-year-old has appeared in 151 games (117) starts during 11-year NFL career. Ramczyk, on the other hand, was just selected with the final pick of the first round in the 2017 draft. Peat, meanwhile, played left tackle at Stanford and has split time between tackle and guard with New Orleans.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • Although cornerback Brandon Flowers is scheduled to meet with the Cardinals on Wednesday, head coach Bruce Arians says the club isn’t necessarily looking at the veteran defender as a starting-caliber player, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. As such, Arizona’s interest in Flowers shouldn’t be viewed as a comment on Justin Bethel, who is currently projected to start opposite Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals recently lost two backup defensive backs — Jumal Rolle and Elie Bouka — to minor injuries, so a Flowers addition would be a solid depth addition as the team heads to training camp.
  • Bears defensive lineman Jaye Howard has hired David Canter as his new representation, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Howard signed a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum earlier this offseason, but the pact could be worth as much as $4MM through incentives. Given that he’s still relatively young (28) and has been productive in the past, Howard could be in line for a lengthier contract next spring if he plays well in 2017.
  • Entering his third season as the Bears‘ general manager, Ryan Pace is building the Chicago roster in the mold of the Saints, the club with which Pace spent most of his career prior to heading to the Windy City, as Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. Pace and the rest of the Chicago front office is clearly hoping No. 2 overall selection Mitch Trubisky turns into the next Drew Brees, but other points of comparison are apt, as well. Second-round tight end Adam Shaheen could have the game-breaking ability of a Jimmy Graham, while fourth-round running back Tarik Cohen may prove to be a passing game weapon like Darren Sproles.
  • The Packers announced a series of personnel changes on Tuesday, with the most notable being college scout John Wojciechowski‘s promotion to director of pro personnel. Wojciechowski, who has also worked for the Cowboys, Jaguars, and Steelers, has been with Green Bay since 2012. The rest of the Packers’ front office changes, all of which include promotions or hirings in the scouting department, can be found at the link.

Saints Sign First-Round OT Ryan Ramczyk

June 22nd, 2017 at 5:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have agreed to terms with the last of their unsigned draft picks, as they’ve inked first-round tackle Ryan Ramczyk to a four-year deal, the club announced today.Ryan Ramczyk (Vertical)

Ramczyk, who had been one of only a dozen unsigned picks league-wide, had been battling a hip issue, leading to a delay in contract negotiation. Although the Saints drafted the Wisconsin product at No. 32 overall with an eye towards the future, Ramczyk may instead be called on to play immediately. Incumbent left tackle Terron Armstead recently suffered a labrum injury and will be sidelined 4-6 months, meaning Ramcyzk could start at left tackle from day one.

Like all first-round selections, Ramczyk will sign a four-year contract that comes with a fifth-year option (for the 2021 campaign) attached. In total, Ramczyk’s deal will be worth approximately $8.892MM, including a signing bonus of $4.607MM and 2017 cap charge of $1.617MM.

Here’s a complete overview of the Saints’ 2017 draft class:

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