I've heard many arguements over a while about who's the better guard in Free agency and which we should chase,lets try to settle it once and for all.

Carl Nicks:

In the Saints vaunted offensive line,which boasts Jahri Evans,Jermon Bushrod and Carl Nicks,none is more feared than Nicks, who is a feared pass protector and run blocker.Jermon Bushrod is set to be a free agent also,so it is likely one or the other goes,I'm thinking it's gonna be Nicks.Christopher Ivory,an unheralded rookie has had an impressive year,mainly because of Nicks.Here are the rushing stats by directions for the Saints offense:

                                    ATT  YD   Y/A  LNG  20+ TD
Right :                      152  578   4.0   33    4     1

Left(Nick's side):    133:  659  4.9   55   3       3

Center:                      66   294  4.5     54   1        5

                                    As you can see,the left side(Carl Nick's side) is  argueably where the Saints were best running at.

Logan Mankins:

He only played 9 games this year due to holdout and does not wan't to go back to New England.Danny Woodhead and Benjarvus Green Ellis had breakout seasons once he came back(though they were already  good).Brady had literally forever to throw,the reason why he picked apart defenses. RushingStats below(Note:statistics may be a little bit skewed because Mankins didn't play all 16 games,but tells a rough story of  how he did.The statistics would be  higher if he played all 16 games)

                                                                 ATT     YD   Y/A  LNG  20+   TD

Left side (Mankin's side)  :                 166    752  4.6    29      2       7

Right:                                                      148    770  5.2    36     5        6

Middle:                                                   116     473  4.1   29      2        6

Mankin's side is not as good as the right side,but it deserves some recognition compared to Nicks.

Here are their run blocking stats:

 :(The Patriots got better rushing towards the left as Mankins came back so I  changed  his stats to what it would have been around.

                                             ATT     YD   Y/A      LNG  20+    TD 

Mankins:                            176    836    4.8     38       4         7

Nicks:                                  133   659   4.9      55       2         3

Note:

 Patriots got better rushing towards the left as Mankins came back so I  changed  his stats to what it would have been around in 16 games.