The New Orleans Saints wrapped up the 2025 preseason with a 28-19 loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday, led by familiar faces Sean Payton and Darren Rizzi.
The week’s standout player capped an extremely impressive preseason with another eye-opening performance. The breakout from the Saints’ preseason finale loss to the Broncos is OL Torricelli Simpkins III.
The UDFA out of South Carolina posted a 77.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (80.7 RBK and 67.1 PBK) after allowing just one hurry on 26 pass-blocking snaps against the Broncos. According to The 33rd Team, Simpkins’ 109 pass-protection snaps without allowing a sack were the most among rookie offensive linemen this preseason.
With starting LG Trevor Penning dealing with a turf toe injury and both Will Clapp and Nick Saldiveri on season-ending injured reserve, Simpkins couldn’t have thrived at a better time and may have even opened the door for the 23-year-old to potentially earn a starting role while Penning recovers.
I still think there’s a strong chance free-agent addition Dillon Radunz starts in Penning’s place until he returns, but Simpkins has made a name for himself and given the coaching staff a tough decision to make.
That said, it looks like New Orleans has found a gem in Torricelli Simpkins III, and if he continues to take advantage of this opportunity, the Saints may have just found a future starter with Penning hitting free agency this offseason after the team declined his fifth-year option.