You can’t say anything about the moves the New Orleans Saints have made this offseason without a fan or two reminding everyone that nothing matters until the offensive line is fixed. Whether it’s keeping Tyler Shough clean long enough to get a pass to Jordyn Tyson or opening a lane for Travis Etienne Jr. to rush through, the Saints won’t go anywhere if they can’t block up front. And if you ask Erik McCoy, signing left guard David Edwards at the start of free agency could accomplish just that.
“He’s making pre-snap reads. Is it two-high? Is it one high (safety)? Are they going, are the linebackers going to bump because it’s one-high versus two? He’s on it, bro. He’s on it,” McCoy said during an interview on Terron Armstead’s The Set YouTube show. He added, “I’m all, I’m all in. He’s a, he’s a great teammate. He’s a great dude to be around. Um, so I think, that he’s one of our biggest offseason additions. I’m a big fan of the guy.”
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The Saints have had a revolving door at the left guard spot ever since Andrus Peat left a couple of years ago. Eight different players started games there between 2024 (Lucas Patrick, Nick Saldiveri, Oli Udoh, Landon Young, and Kyle Hergel) and 2025 (Dillon Radunz, Trevor Penning, and Torricelli Simpkins III). While McCoy has dealt with a series of injuries in that time, he’s had to do a lot of heavy lifting on his left side whenever he has been healthy and available. No more.
McCoy pointed out that while Edwards is a high-end athlete, his intelligence sets him apart. He’s been a starter for most of seven years and doesn’t need much help locking down his assignments. As a former high school quarterback, his ability to read the defense and anticipate what’s coming is special.
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 17: David Edwards #76 of the Buffalo Bills waves to fans after his team’s 31-10 win against the Dallas Cowboys at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 17: David Edwards #76 of the Buffalo Bills waves to fans after his team’s 31-10 win against the Dallas Cowboys at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: David Edwards #76 of the Buffalo Bills waits for the snap against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 17: David Edwards #76 of the Buffalo Bills looks on against the Chicago Bears during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on August 17, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 02: Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs and David Edwards #76 of the Buffalo Bills compete during the third quarter in the game at Highmark Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 14: David Edwards #76 of the Buffalo Bills takes the field prior to a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Jul 26, 2023; Rochester, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards (76) practices on the field during training camp at St. John Fisher College. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Aug 12, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards (76) blocks during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards (76) against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Aug 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Bills center Connor McGovern (66) and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (11) and guard David Edwards (76) at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Sep 8, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards (76) looks to block against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Oct 20, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards (76) looks to block Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons (98) during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Nov 17, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards (76) blocks Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Mike Pennel Jr. (69) during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards (76) keeps his eyes on New York Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt (55) during second half action at the Bills home game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 29, 2024.
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards stares down the Broncos as the teams line up during the first half of the Buffalo Bills wild card game against the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 12, 2025.
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards (76) against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Sep 14, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards (76) after the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Oct 13, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards (76) on the field against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Oct 26, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) scrambles behind guard David Edwards (76) during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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David Edwards could fix the Saints offensive line; just ask Erik McCoy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby heads towards Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen who was just getting the snap during first half action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov 16, 2025 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Guarding Allen are Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards and offensive tackle Dion Dawkins.
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Dec 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) at the line of scrimmage with guard David Edwards (76) and offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Buffalo Bills center Connor McGovern, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards get ready to line up during first half action at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 7, 2025.
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III finds an opening and follows guard David Edwards during second half action at Empower FIeld at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Jan. 17, 2026.
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Saints to sign David Edwards: Photos of New Orleans’ new guard
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady talks with lineman David Edwards before the start of the Buffalo Bills training camp.
That’s not to say the offensive line is fixed. We won’t know for sure until September. Even if Edwards helps clean up the left side of the line, Cesar Ruiz needs to step up at right guard. And depth is a concern. The Saints brought back Radunz and Simpkins from last year’s team, as well as other backups like Asim Richards, Barry Wesley, Xavier Truss and William Sherman. Then they spent a fourth-round pick on Auburn guard Jeremiah Wright and made college tackles Alex Wollschlaeger (Kentucky) and Alan Herron (Maryland) their highest-paid rookie free agents. It may take another offseason cycle to fully implement the Saints’ vision for the offensive line, but you can see what they’re cooking. Both McCoy and Edwards are going to be a big part of it.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints center Erik McCoy fired up to block alongside David Edwards