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With the 126th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints have selected linebacker Khairi Fortt from California.
Saints 2014 Draft Picks
Saints 2014 Draft Picks
The 6-2, 242-pound linebacker definitely fills a need, but is a relative unknown. He played only one year as a Golden Bear after transferring from Penn State and sitting out a season. Fortt will join fellow Cal Bear Cam Jordan on the defensive side of the ball for the Saints. He was a Butkus award semi-finalist.
Here's a quick overview on Fortt from NFL Draft Scout:
Fortt didn't have the same big-play impact at Cal that he showed while at Penn State, but there's certainly no denying his explosiveness and toughness on tape, and he has shown improvement in his all-around game.
His lack of gaudy numbers may cause some NFL teams to hesitate come draft week, but his "plus" movement skills in space combined with his toughness against the run could make him a steal on the second or third day as a versatile, multi-position contributor both on defense and special teams.
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Useful Draft Links
- Complete First Round Results
- NFL Draft 2014: Everything You Need to Know
- Saints Draft Interest Tracker
- Saints Mock Draft Database
- Saints CSC Big Board
- CSC Community Mock Draft
Saints 2014 Draft Picks
20th Overall (Round 1) - Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon St.
54th Overall (Round 2) - Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska
126th Overall (Round 4) - Khairi Fortt, LB, California
167th Overall (Round 5)
169th Overall (Round 5)
202nd Overall (Round 6)
Top Remaining Positions of Need
- Center
- Offensive Tackle