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.

By John J. Hendrix@JohnJHendrix Apr 27, 2017, 12:57pm CDT

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 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)