Apparently the people over at the Times-Pic are as equally news starved this off-season as I am and today released two articles informing us all of the history of the 10th overall pick in the draft, both for the Saints and the rest of the league.
This article discusses the two players the Saints have previously picked at the 10th spot in years past. The good news: they turned out to be decent players. The bad news: most of it was while they played for other teams.
Receiver Ken Burrough, drafted in 1970, played just one season in New Orleans before being traded to Houston, where he excelled the next 11 seasons.
Guard Chris Naeole, the 10th pick in 1997, was a solid starter for most of his five seasons in New Orleans, but he never escaped the stigma of being drafted too high until he left for Jacksonville as a free agent in 2002.
The other article the Times-Pic published today was a run down of some of the famous and not so famous 10th overall picks. The article is oddly laid out, but this is what you need to know:
Some great 10th overall picks:
- Marcus Allen - 1982 - L.A.
- Rod Woodson - 1987 - Pittsburgh
- Jerome Bettis - 1993 - St. Louis
- Terrell Suggs - 2003 - Baltimore
- Chris McAlister - 1999 - Baltimore
- Amobi Okoye - 2007 - Houston
Not so great picks at the 10th spot:
- Mike Williams - 2005 - Detroit
- Jamal Reynolds - 2001 - Green Bay
They warn us though...
11th Overall picks that got missed at the 10th spot:
- Ben Roethlisberger - 2004 - Pittsburgh
- Jay Cutler - 2006 - Denver
- Dan Morgan - 2001 - Carolina
- Marcus Trufant - 2003 - Seattle
- Dwight Freeney - 2002 - Indianapolis
Finally, Charlton Heston died last week. The only reason I mention this is because of his role as an aging quarterback with a drinking problem who played for the New Orleans Saints in the movie Number One. Go figure.