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New Orleans Saints draft trends in the Sean Payton era

Here’s an overview of how the Saints have drafted since 2006 by position, college, round, and more.

Super Bowl XLVII - Preview Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

When you think about the New Orleans Saints and their draft history, you might easily cringe. Some 67 players have been drafted in Sean Payton era, which is a league low. After Brandin Cooks was traded to the New England Patriots, no player exists from the 2014 NFL Draft.

Here’s a detailed look at the Saints and their pick history, as we gear up for Day One of the NFL Draft.

Round One Picks

  • 2006 (2nd): Reggie Bush, RB, USC
  • 2007 (27th): Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
  • 2008 (7th): Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
  • 2009 (14th): Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State
  • 2010 (32nd): Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
  • 2011 (24th): Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal | 28th: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
  • 2013 (15th): Kenny Vaccaro, DB, Texas
  • 2014 (20th): Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
  • 2015 (13th): Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford | 31st: Stephone Anthony, LB, Clemson
  • 2016 (12th): Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

Round Two Picks

  • 2006 (43rd): Roman Harper, DB, Alabama
  • 2008 (40th): Tracy Porter, DB, Indiana
  • 2010 (64th): Charles Brown, OT, USC
  • 2014 (58th): Stanley Jean-Baptiste, DB, Nebraska
  • 2015 (44th): Hau’oli Kikaha, OLB, Washington
  • 2016 (47th): Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State | 61st: Vonn Bell, DB, Ohio State

Round Three Picks

  • 2007 (66th): Usama Young, DB, Kent State | 88th: Andy Alleman, OG, Akron
  • 2010 (95th): Jimmy Graham, TE, Miami
  • 2011 (72nd): Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois | 88th: Johnny Patrick, DB, Louisville
  • 2012 (89th): Akiem Hicks, DE, Regina
  • 2013 (75th): Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas Pine-Bluff | 82nd: John Jenkins, DT, Georgia
  • 2015 (75th): Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State | 78th: P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

Round Four Picks

  • 2006 (108th): Jahri Evans, OT, Bloomsburg
  • 2007 (107th): Antonio Pittman, RB, Ohio State | 125th: Jermon Bushrod, OT, Towson
  • 2009 (116th): Chip Vaughn, DB, Wake Forest | 118th: Stanley Arnoux, LB, Wake Forest
  • 2010 (123rd): Al Woods, DT, LSU
  • 2012 (122nd): Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin
  • 2014 (126th): Khairi Fortt, LB, Cal
  • 2016 (120th): David Onyemata, DT, Manitoba

Round Five Picks

  • 2006 (135th): Rob Ninkovich, DE, Purdue
  • 2007 (145th): David Jones, DB, Wingate
  • 2008 (144th): DeMario Pressley, DT, NC State | 164th: Carl Nicks, OT, Nebraska
  • 2009 (164th): Thomas Morstead, P, SMU
  • 2010 (158th): Matt Tennant, C, Boston College
  • 2012 (162nd): Corey White, DB, Samford
  • 2013 (144th): Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma
  • 2014 (167th): Vinnie Sunseri, DB, Alabama | 169th: Ronald Powell, LB, Florida
  • 2015 (148th): Davis Tull, LB, Tenn-Chattanooga | 154th: Tyeler Davison, DT, Fresno State | 167th: Damian Swann, DB, Georgia

Round Six Picks

  • 2006 (171st): Mike Haas, WR, Oregon State | 174th: Josh Lay, DB, Pittsburgh
  • 2008 (178th): Taylor Mehlhaff, K, Wisconsin
  • 2012 (179th): Andrew Tiller, OG, Syracuse
  • 2013 (183rd): Rufus Johnson, DE, Tarlton State
  • 2014 (202nd): Tavon Rooks, OL, Kansas State

Round Seven Picks

  • 2006 (210th): Zach Strief, OG, Northwestern | 252nd: Marques Colston, WR, Hofstra
  • 2007 (220th): Marvin Mitchell, LB, Tennessee
  • 2008 (237th): Adrian Arrington, WR, Michigan
  • 2010 (239th): Sean Canfield, QB, Oregon State
  • 2011 (226th): Greg Romeus, DL, Pittsburgh | 243rd: Nate Bussey, LB, Illinois
  • 2012 (234th): Marcel Jones, OL, Nebraska
  • 2015 (230th): Marcus Murphy, RB, Missouri
  • 2016 (237th): Daniel Lasco, RB, Cal

Picks By Position

  • Defensive Back - 16
  • Offensive Line - 12
  • Defensive Line - 12
  • Linebacker - 9
  • Wide Receiver - 8
  • Running Back - 5
  • Quarterback - 2
  • Tight End - 1
  • Kicker - 1
  • Punter - 1
Saints picks by position since 2006
John Hendrix

Saints picks by College - Top 3

  • Ohio State (4)
  • Alabama (3), California (3), Nebraska (3), Oregon State (3), USC (3)
  • Florida State (2), Georgia (2), Illinois (2), Louisville (2), Pittsburgh (2), Tennessee (2), Wake Forest (2), Wisconsin (2)

Saints picks by College Conference

  • Big Ten (14), SEC (10), ACC (9), Non-Division I-A (6), Pac 10 (6), Pac 12 (5), Big 12 (4), Big East (4), MAC (2), Mountain West (2), Other (2), C-USA (1), FCS (1), Southern (1)
Saints picks by college conference since 2006
John Hendrix