New Orleans just lost a key ingredient in its football gumbo—and the recipe’s getting a spicy twist. Picture this: a Saints stalwart, once pancaking defenders like Mardi Gras beads at a parade, now trading cleats for a microphone. Meanwhile, the NFL Draft’s about to serve drama hotter than a crawfish boil.
On Thursday, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, 30, announced his retirement via Instagram after a knee injury sidelined him indefinitely. “I’m looking forward to this next chapter in life and am forever grateful. Who Dat for life ,” he wrote. The 2017 first-rounder started 101 games, earning three straight All-Pro nods (2018-20)—joining Saints legend William Roaf in rare air. But his knee, as unreliable as a Louisiana summer forecast, forced him off the menu. Now, here’s the plot twist.
Ramczyk isn’t leaving the stage quietly. The NFL tapped him to announce New Orleans’ Day 2 draft picks Friday in Green Bay—a role usually reserved for active legends. Talk about a mic-drop exit! Drafted with a pick acquired by trading Brandin Cooks to the Patriots (remember that deal?), Ramczyk’s career mirrored a home run swing—PFWA All-Rookie, three All-Pro teams, and a legacy as sturdy as Bourbon Street’s oak barrels.
As the Saints eye replacements this weekend, Ramczyk’s departure leaves a hole bigger than a beignet’s center. Will they draft his successor? Can they salvage a lineup missing its anchor?
This story is unfolding—stay locked in for the latest.
The post Derek Carr’s 30-YO Teammate Forced To Retire as Saints Veteran To Announce Teams’ Day 2 Draft Picks appeared first on EssentiallySports.