Fri Apr 4 10:52:57 2008

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New Orleans Saints 2008 Draft Preview

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(Sports Network) - After taking an offensive player in each of the past three first-rounds, New Orleans is almost certain to address the defense with its No. 10 pick this year. Specifically, a long-underachieving secondary requires some reinforcements, and the Saints should be able to get a very good corner - Mike Jenkins (South Florida), Leodis McKelvin (Troy), or Aqib Talib (Kansas) - with its initial selection. A pass rusher to take some pressure off of the hot-and-cold Will Smith could be another early-round target, a move that would allow Charles Grant to move inside and help fix a shaky interior line. Trench help would also be a good addition on offense, where the team lost reliable center Jeff Faine to division rival Tampa Bay in free agency. If the Saints draft a skill player, it could very well be a wideout, since the team did not have a consistent complement to Marques Colston a year ago.

2007 Record: 7-9

First Pick: No. 10

Number of Selections: 6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)

RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2007 - Robert Meachem (WR, Tennessee); 2006 - Reggie Bush (RB, USC); 2005 - Jammal Brown (T, Oklahoma); 2004 - Will Smith (DE, Ohio State); 2003 - Johnathan Sullivan (DT, Georgia); 2002 - Donte' Stallworth (WR, Tennessee), Charles Grant (DE, Georgia); 2001 - Deuce McAllister (RB, Ole Miss); 2000 - none; 1999 - Ricky Williams (RB, Texas); 1998 - Kyle Turley (OT, San Diego State); 1997 - Chris Naeole (OG, Colorado); 1996 - Alex Molden (CB, Colorado); 1995 - Mark Fields (LB, Washington State); 1994 - Joe Johnson (DE, Louisville); 1993 - Willie Roaf (OT, Louisiana Tech), Irv Smith (TE, Notre Dame); 1992 - Vaughn Dunbar (RB, Indiana); 1991 - none; 1990 - Renaldo Turnbull (DE/LB, West Virginia).