Saints Hold Eight Selections Entering
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SAINTS HOLD EIGHT SELECTIONS ENTERING NFL DRAFT FROM APRIL 29 - MAY 1 The newest members of the New Orleans minutes for choices made in rounds three Saints will come to the team this week, as the through six and four minutes for choices in 86th annual NFL Draft will take place on round seven. Trading is allowed throughout the Thursday, Friday and Saturday from April 29 - course of the draft. May 1 in Cleveland, Ohio. The draft will kick off There will be a total of seven rounds and in its primetime format for the 12th consecutive 259 selections (222 regular picks and 37 com - year at 7:00 p.m. (CT) on Thursday evening, pensatory choices) in the 2021 NFL Draft. The with the first round to be completed. The draft NFL awarded 37 draft picks to 17 teams that will resume on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. for sustained a net loss of unrestricted free agents rounds two and three with the remaining four last year. A team that loses more unrestricted rounds to be completed on Saturday free agents than it acquires in the previ - starting at 11 a.m. ous year is eligible to receive compensa - The Saints own eight picks in the tory draft choices. The Saints were seven rounds, with their highest being a awarded three compensatory picks in first round draft choice (28th overall). 2021, one with Atlanta’s hiring of Terry New Orleans will be looking to further Fontenot (special compensatory). supplement the roster following drafts Of the eight picks to start the draft with, the past six seasons which have netted New Orleans holds one in the first round four Pro Bowl selections, nine starters and sev - (28th overall), one in the second round (60th eral additional significant contributors with their overall), two in the third round (98th and 105nd picks, headlined by RB Alvin Kamara , CB overall), one in the fourth round (133rd overall), Marshon Lattimore , G/C Andrus Peat and WR one in the sixth round (218th overall) and two Michael Thomas . selections in the seventh round (229th and ABC/ESPN and the NFL Network will pro - 255th overall). vide full live coverage and analysis of the 2021 New Orleans is left without a fifth round pick NFL Draft on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in in this year’s NFL Draft, after having traded it to its entirety. The first round will conclude by the San Francisco 49ers midseason for LB approximately 10:30 p.m., the second and third Kwon Alexander . The Saints traded their origi - rounds will end by 9:45 and Saturday’s selec - nal third round choice to Cleveland to acquire tions will conclude around 6:15. linebacker Zack Baun with the 74th overall pick, Each team is permitted a maximum of ten but were awarded two compensatory third round minutes per selection in the first round of the selections (98th and 105th overall) and another draft, seven minutes in the second round, five in the sixth round (218th overall). DRAFT MEDIA INFORMATION SAINTS ROUND-BY-ROUND The Saints media workroom at the Ochsner The New Orleans Saints currently have eight Sports Performance Center will not be open selections in the 2021 NFL Draft: to the media due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.The Communications staff will facili - Round Pick in Round Overall tate all the media’s draft needs on a virtual 1. SAINTS 28 28 basis. 2. SAINTS 28 60 3a. Compensatory 35 98 Virtual conference calls with draft picks are 3b. Spec, Comp 42 105 tentatively scheduled to take place following 4. SAINTS 28 133 selections. Executive Vice President/General 6. Compensatory 34 218 Manager Mickey Loomis and Head Coach 7a. Saints (From Jax) 1 229 Sean Payton will also be available in a virtual press conference setting periodically over the 7b. SAINTS 28 255 course of the three days as time permits. TRADE REVIEW: During the 2020 NFL Draft, Transcripts of player, coach and executive New Orleans made a trade with Cleveland, sending interview sessions will be available both via last year’s 88th overall pick, as well as their third round selection this year, in exchange for last year’s email as well as on the club’s media website. 74th overall pick, which they used to select line - backer Zack Baun. San Francisco acquired New Saints Media Website Link: Orleans’ fifth round pick in 2021 (172nd overall) and www.neworleanssaints.com/media linebacker Kiko Alonso in exchange for linebacker Kwon Alexander, a trade which took place during the 2020 season. New Orleans traded their original sixth round pick to Houston for the 240th overall pick in last year’s draft, which they used to select QB Tommy Stevens. The Saints acquired the Jaguar’s seventh round choice in the 2021 NFL Draft (229th overall) in exchange for defensive tackle Malcom Brown. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 2021 NFL DRAFT RELEASE; PAGE TWO SAINTS DRAFT RECAP SAINTS DRAFT RECAP The New Orleans Saints have made the most of their record books. choices, selecting quality players that now form the Round 3a: Running Back Alvin Kamara – In 2020, foundation of the roster. Below is a synopsis of the the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year turned in another standout campaign, where he club’s draft picks: led the NFL with a franchise-record 21 touchdowns, 2020 ranked second with 93 first downs and third with a Center/Guard – Played in 15 Round 1: Cesar Ruiz career-best 1,688 total yards from scrimmage while games with nine starts at right guard as a rookie, being selected to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl. blocking for the NFL’s fifth-ranked scoring team and Since coming into the NFL in 2017, Kamara ranks sixth-ranked rushing offense, scoring a franchise- second in the league in total touchdowns (59) and record and league-best 30 rushing touchdowns. total yards from scrimmage (6,347), third in rushing Linebacker – Baun played in Round 3a: Zack Baun touchdowns (43), ninth in rushing yards (3,340) and a 15 regular season games in 2020, with three starts at receptions total first among running backs (326) and strongside linebacker, posting eight tackles (three leads tailbacks in receiving yardage (2,824). solo) and four special teams stops. The second-year pro will look to increase his role on defense and spe - cial teams in 2021. 2016 Wide Receiver – 510 Tight End – the versatile Round 2a: Michael Thomas Round 3b: Adam Trautman receptions are the most by a National Football tight end will compete for additional snaps in 2021 League player through first five seasons. Thomas after playing in 15 games and posting 14 catches for missed much of the 2020 season with an ankle injury, 166 yards and one touchdown with one special but added 40 receptions for 438 yards in seven teams stop as a rookie. games. Round 4: Defensive Tackle David Onyemata – Has 2019 appeared in all 78 games with 40 starts and recorded Center/Guard – PFWA NFL Round 2: Erik McCoy 167 stops and 16 sacks in first five seasons. Posted All-Rookie selection has started all 32 games and a career-high 6.5 takedowns and his first career inter - three postseason contests he’s played at center. ception in 2020, as the Saints finished the season McCoy blocked for the NFL’s fifth-ranked scoring ranked fourth in the NFL in run defense. team and sixth-ranked rushing offense, scoring a franchise-record and league-best 30 rushing touch - downs. 2015 Tackle/Guard – Has opened Defensive Back – Round 1a: Andrus Peat Round 4: C.J. Gardner-Johnson 73 regular season games and six postseson con - PFWA NFL All-Rookie selection has played in 31 tests at every position except center. Was named to games with 20 starts. The third-year pro led the team his third consecutive Pro Bowl following a 2020 cam - with 13 pass breakups, placed third with 65 tackles paign where he started 13 regular season games and and was one of ten players with an interception in two playoff contests for the league’s fifth-ranked scor - 2020. ing team and sixth-ranked rushing offense, scoring a Linebacker – Third-year play - Round 7: Kaden Elliss franchise-record and league-best 30 rushing touch - er continues to develop on defense and special downs. teams. Elliss appeared in 15 games and two postsea - Cornerback – This former son contest on special teams recording stops in Round 3b: P.J. Williams Florida State standout has appeared in 62 career 2020. games with 25 starts, posting 185 tackles (145 solo). In 2020, he appeared in 15 games with three starts 2018 posting 37 tackles (28 solo), a club-best two defen - Defensive End – Round 1: Marcus Davenport sive fumble recoveries, and one interception PFWA NFL All-Rookie selection has posted 12 sacks and five forced fumbles his first three seasons, despite missing ten contests due to injuries. 2013 Tackle – Has opened 85 Wide Receiver – Played Round 3: Terron Armstead Round 3: Tre’Quan Smith regular season games and nine postseason contests in 14 regular season games with ten starts and set at left tackle since becoming a starter in 2013. In career-highs with 34 receptions for 448 receiving 2020, was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl, yards to go with four touchdowns. Smith also added blocking for the NFL’s fifth-ranked scoring team and three receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns in sixth-ranked rushing offense, scoring a franchise- two postseason games. record and league-best 30 rushing touchdowns.