Saints sign free agent offensive linemen Shane Lemieux, Justin Herron

No team accomplished everything it wanted to in the 2024 NFL draft — including the New Orleans Saints, who are still looking to plug holes by signing veteran free agents in the days after the selection event. One obvious vulnerability they need to address is the left guard spot, following James Hurst’s decision to retire.

And here’s a couple of options who could help out. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reported Monday that the Saints signed former New York Giants guard Shane Lemieux following a free agent tryout. Lemieux, who turns 26 in a few weeks, primarily plays on the left side dating back to his college career at Oregon. He was teammates with former Saints backup Calvin Throckmorton, as well as current Saints tight end Juwan Johnson and safety Ugo Amadi. The Giants drafted Lemieux in fifth round of the 2020 draft but he’s started just a dozen games since.

Underhill adds that the Saints are also signed free agent offensive lineman Justin Herron. A sixth-round pick in 2020 out of Wake Forest (by the New England Patriots), Herron was briefly teammates with Derek Carr on the Las Vegas Raiders. He exclusively played left tackle in college but has seen action on either side of the line in the NFL. It’s a cool full-circle moment with both players being represented by AMDG Sports, an agency founded by former Saints Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley.

While neither of them feel like threats to start for the Saints, it’s important to add experienced backups like these guys to round out the depth chart for training camp. Someone needs to show the new guys the ropes. But maybe they’ll surprise us and excel in Klint Kubiak’s new offense.