List of New Orleans Saints first-round draft picks

The following is a list of draft picks that the New Orleans Saints selected in the first-round. The New Orleans Saints joined the National Football League (NFL) as an expansion team in 1967 and first participated in the 1967 NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting, more commonly known as the NFL Draft. [cite news|last=Branch |first=John |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20000409/ai_n9969057 |title=The 2000 Liars Club/ Draft makes Broncos coach cloak intentions |publisher=findarticles.com |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date= 2000-04-09| accessdate=2008-05-29 ] In the NFL Draft, each NFL franchise annually seeks to add new players to its roster. Teams are ranked in inverse order based on the previous season's record, with the worst record picking first, and the second-worst picking second and so on. The two exceptions to this order are made for teams that appeared in the previous Super Bowl; the Super Bowl champion always picks 32nd, and the Super Bowl loser always picks 31st. Teams have the option of trading away their picks to other teams for different picks, players, cash, or a combination thereof. Thus, it is not uncommon for a team's actual draft pick to differ from their assigned draft pick, or for a team to have extra or no draft picks in any round due to these trades. [cite web|url=http://football.about.com/od/miscinformation/a/detdraftorder.htm| last = Alder | first = James | title = "NFL Draft Basics:Determining Order of Selection" | work = football.about.com | accessdate=2008-01-04]

In the 1967 NFL Draft, the Saints had two first-round picks; first and last. They traded away the first overall pick to the Baltimore Colts,cite book |last=Duncan |first=Jeff | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=brRoHOyJkE8C | title=Tales from the Saints Sideline |isbn=1582617708 |publisher=Sports Publishing LLC |pages=p. 174 | accessdate= 2008-03-14] while with the 26th pick, they selected Leslie Kelley, a running back from Alabama.cite web | work=NFL's Official Website | url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/teambyteam?team=New+Orleans+Saints | title=NFL Draft History: First Round by Team | accessdate=2008-01-04] The Saints have selected first overall once, drafting George Rogers in 1981, [cite web | work=NFL's Official Website | url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/alltimeno1 | title=All Time Number 1 Draft Picks | accessdate=2008-01-13] second overall twice, drafting Archie Manning in 1971 and Reggie Bush in 2006, [cite web | work=NFL's Official Website | url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/alltimeno2 | title=All Time Number 2 Draft Picks | accessdate=2008-01-13] and third overall once, drafting Wes Chandler in 1978. The team's most recent first-round selection was Sedrick Ellis in the 2008 NFL Draft, a defensive tackle from Southern California. [cite web| url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round |title=Draft tracker by round |work=NFL's Official Website |accessdate=2008-05-06]

Player selections

{| class="wikitable sortable"
-! Year! Pick! Player name! Position! College! class=unsortable|Notes
-
align="center" | 1967
align="center" | nts|26
sortname|Leslie|Kelley
Running back
Alabama
align="center" |ref label|Note01|a|a
-
align="center" | 1968
align="center" | nts|7
sortname|Kevin|Hardy|Kevin Hardy (defensive tackle)
Defensive end
Notre Dame
align="center" |ref label|Note02|b|b
-
align="center" | 1969
align="center" | nts|17
sortname|John|Shinners
Guard
Xavier
align="center" |ref label|Note03|c|c
-
align="center" | 1970
align="center" | nts|10
sortname|Ken|Burrough
Wide receiver
Texas Southern
align="center"
-
align="center" | 1971
align="center" | nts|2
sortname|Archie|Manning
Quarterback
Mississippi
align="center"
-
align="center" | 1972
align="center" | nts|8
sortname|Royce|Smith
Guard
Georgia
align="center"
-
align="center" | 1973
align="center" |—
— "No pick"
—
—
align="center" |ref label|Note04|d|d
-
align="center" | 1974
align="center" | nts|13
sortname|Rick|Middleton|Rick Middleton (American football)
Linebacker
Ohio State
align="center" |ref label|Note05|e|e
-
align="center" | 1975
align="center" | nts|7
Larry Burton
Wide receiver
Purdue|
-
align="center" | 1975
align="center" | nts|12
sortname|Kurt|Schumacher|Kurt Schumacher (American football)
Offensive tackle
Ohio State
align="center" | ref label|Note06|f|f
-
align="center" | 1976
align="center" | nts|3
sortname|Chuck|Muncie
Running back
California
align="center"
-
align="center" | 1977
align="center" | nts|7
sortname|Joe|Campbell
Defensive end
Maryland

-
align="center" | 1978
align="center" | nts|3
sortname|Wes|Chandler
Wide receiver
Florida

-
align="center" | 1979
align="center" | nts|11
sortname|Russell|Erxleben
Placekicker
Texas

-
align="center" | 1980
align="center" | nts|12
sortname|Stan|Brock
Offensive tackle
Colorado

-
align="center" | 1981
align="center" | nts|1
style="background-color: #DDFFDD;" |sortname|George|Rogers|George Rogers (football player) *
Running back
South Carolina

-
align="center" | 1982
align="center" | nts|13
sortname|Lindsay|Scott
Wide receiver
Georgia
align="center" | ref label|Note07|g|g
-
align="center" | 1983
align="center" |—
— "No pick"
—
—
align="center" | ref label|Note08|h|h
-
align="center" | 1984
align="center" |—
— "No pick"
—
—
align="center" | ref label|Note09|i|i
-
align="center" | 1985
align="center" | nts|24
sortname|Alvin|Toles
Linebacker
Tennessee
align="center" | ref label|Note10|j|j
-
align="center" | 1986
align="center" | nts|6
sortname|Jim|Dombrowski
Offensive tackle
Virginia
align="center" | ref label|Note11|k|k
-
align="center" | 1987
align="center" | nts|11
sortname|Shawn|Knight
Defensive tackle
Brigham Young

-
align="center" | 1988
align="center" | nts|24
sortname|Craig|Heyward
Running back
Pittsburgh

-
align="center" | 1989
align="center" | nts|19
sortname|Wayne|Martin|Wayne Martin (American football)
Defensive end
Arkansas

-
align="center" | 1990
align="center" | nts|14
sortname|Renaldo|Turnbull
Defensive end
West Virginia|
-
align="center" | 1991
align="center" |—
— "No pick"
—
—
align="center" | ref label|Note12|l|l
-
align="center" | 1992
align="center" | nts|21
sortname|Vaughn|Dunbar
Running back
Indiana

-
align="center" | 1993
align="center" | nts|8
sortname|Willie|Roaf
Offensive tackle
Louisiana Tech
align="center" | ref label|Note13|m|m
-
align="center" | 1993
align="center" | nts|20
sortname|Irv|Smith
Tight end
Notre Dame
align="center" | ref label|Note14|n|n
-
align="center" | 1994
align="center" | nts|13
sortname|Joe|Johnson|Joe Johnson (American football)
Defensive end
Louisville
align="center" | ref label|Note15|o|o
-
align="center" | 1995
align="center" | nts|13
sortname|Mark|Fields|Mark Fields (American football)
Linebacker
Washington State|
-
align="center" | 1996
align="center" | nts|11
sortname|Alex|Molden
Defensive back
Oregon|
-
align="center" | 1997
align="center" | nts|10
sortname|Chris|Naeole
Guard
Colorado
align="center" | ref label|Note16|p|p
-
align="center" | 1998
align="center" | nts|7
sortname|Kyle|Turley
Offensive tackle
San Diego State

-
align="center" | 1999
align="center" | nts|5
sortname|Ricky|Williams
Running back
Texas
align="center" | ref label|Note17|q|q
-
align="center" | 2000
align="center" |—
— "No pick"
—
—
align="center" | ref label|Note18|r|r
-
align="center" | 2001
align="center" | nts|23
sortname|Deuce|McAllister
Running back
Mississippi
align="center"
-
align="center" | 2002
align="center" | nts|13
sortname|Donté|Stallworth
Wide receiver
Tennessee
align="center"
-
align="center" | 2002
align="center" | nts|25
sortname|Charles|Grant|Charles Grant (American football)
Defensive end
Georgia
align="center" | ref label|Note19|s|s
-
align="center" | 2003
align="center" | nts|6
sortname|Johnathan|Sullivan
Defensive tackle
Georgia
align="center" | ref label|Note20|t|t
-
align="center" | 2004
align="center" | nts|18
sortname|Will|Smith|Will Smith (American football)
Defensive end
Ohio State|
-
align="center" | 2005
align="center" | nts|13
sortname|Jammal|Brown
Offensive tackle
Oklahoma
align="center" | ref label|Note21|u|u
-
align="center" | 2006
align="center" | nts|2
sortname|Reggie|Bush
Running back
Southern California

-
align="center" | 2007
align="center" | nts|27
sortname|Robert|Meachem
Wide receiver
Tennessee

-
align="center" | 2008
align="center" | nts|7
sortname|Sedrick|Ellis
Defensive tackle
Southern California
align="center" | ref label|Note22|v|v

Footnotes

*note label|Note01|a|a The Saints traded their #1 overall pick to the Baltimore Colts for Gary Cuozzo. The #26 pick still remained in their possession.
*note label|Note02|b|b The Saints traded their #5 overall pick to the Green Bay Packers and acquired this pick from the Minnesota Vikings. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1968.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1968 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note03|c|c The Saints traded their #7 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers and acquired this pick from the Minnesota Vikings. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1969.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1969 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note04|d|d The Saints traded their #2 overall pick to the Baltimore Colts. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1973.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1973 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note05|e|e The Saints acquired this pick from the Detroit Lions. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1974.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1974 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note06|f|f The Saints acquired this pick from the New York Jets. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1975.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1975 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note07|g|g The Saints relinquished their 1st round pick after taking a supplemental pick in 1981. They acquired this pick from the Green Bay Packers. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1982.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1982 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note08|h|h The Saints traded their #11 overall pick to the Green Bay Packers. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1983.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1983 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note09|i|i The Saints traded their #15 overall pick to the New York Jets. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1984.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1984 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note10|j|j The Saints traded their #11 overall pick to the Houston Oilers and acquired the #24 overall pick from the Washington Redskins. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1985.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1985 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note11|k|k The Saints traded their #4 overall pick to the Baltimore Colts for this pick. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1986.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1986 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note12|l|l The Saints traded their #14 overall pick to the Dallas Cowboys. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1991.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1991 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note13|m|m The Saints acquired this pick from the Detroit Lions. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1993.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1993 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note14|n|n The Saints acquired this pick from the San Francisco 49ers. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1993.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1993 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note15|o|o The Saints acquired this pick from the New York Jets. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1994.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1994 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note16|p|p The Saints acquired this pick from the Oakland Raiders. [cite web | work=profootballhof.com | url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1997.jsp | title=Pro Football Draft History 1997 | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note17|q|q The Saints traded their #12 overall pick to the Washington Redskins as well as their 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th round picks, and their 1st and 3rd round picks in 2000 for this pick. [cite web | work=sportsillustrated.cnn.com | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/1999/nfldraft/news/1999/04/17/williams_draft/ | title=NCAA leader Williams second running back chosen | accessdate= 2008-01-29]
*note label|Note18|r|r The Saints traded their #2 overall pick to the Washington Redskins as part of a trade during the 1999 Draft. [cite web | work=sportsillustrated.cnn.com | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/1999/nfldraft/news/1999/04/17/williams_draft/ | title=NCAA leader Williams second running back chosen | accessdate= 2008-01-29]
*note label|Note19|s|s The Saints acquired this pick from the Miami Dolphins as well as a 4th round pick and a 1st round pick in 2003, for Ricky Williams and a 3rd round pick. [cite web | work=miamidolphins.com | url=http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/roster/playerBio.asp?docid=9631 | title=Ricky Williams | accessdate= 2008-01-06]
*note label|Note20|t|t The Saints acquired this pick from the Arizona Cardinals along with a 2nd and 4th round picks, for their #17 and #18 overall picks and a 2nd round pick. [cite web | work=fftoday.com | url=http://fftoday.com/nfl/drafttracker.php?o=by_team&TeamID=9026 | title=NFL Draft Tracker | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note21|u|u The Saints traded their #16 overall pick to the Houston Texans as well as a 3rd round pick in 2006 for this pick. [cite web | work=fftoday.com | url=http://fftoday.com/nfl/drafttracker.php?o=by_team&TeamID=9026 | title=NFL Draft Tracker | accessdate= 2008-01-04]
*note label|Note22|v|v The Saints traded their #10 overall pick to the New England Patriots as well as a 3rd round pick for this pick. [cite web | work=nfl.com | url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round&?icampaign=TripleWide_0426 | title=NFL Draft Tracker | accessdate= 2008-04-26]

References

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