Saints 2021 Draft Pick: Payton Turner
A surprising first round selection, how will Payton Turner fare in New Orleans?
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May 3, 2021
The New Orleans Saints shocked many observers when they used the 28th pick in the first round of the NFL draft to select University of Houston defensive end Payton Turner. Several expected the Saints to address a huge need at cornerback with their first round choice, or perhaps address the linebacker spot or add a wideout.
Instead, New Orleans pulled one of the biggest surprises in the first round. A closer look reveals their thought process behind the pick. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson departed in free agency after leading the team with 13.5 sacks last year. Perennial Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan was not as productive as he’d been in years past. Marcus Davenport, the 14th overall pick of the 2018 draft, continues to struggle with injuries and has produced below expectations.
Dolphins add offensive depth on final day of draft May 1, 2021 at 9:26 PM EDT - Updated May 1 at 9:41 PM
The Miami Dolphins concluded their third and final day of the NFL Draft by picking up a pair of offensive players from Group of Five schools.
Miami didn t make a pick until the seventh round Saturday after trading away its fifth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a fourth-round pick in next year s draft. So Pittsburgh called and they offered a fourth next year and, for us, with where we were at the point in the draft and our board, we thought the opportunity to acquire a fourth-round pick next year was too good to pass up, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told reporters after the draft. That was just really the genesis looking at our board and where we were in terms of our picks thus far and the roster. That s just kind of where we decided the fourth-round pick was really good value for us at that point.
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Central Florida defensive back Aaron Robinson (31) sets up for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tulsa, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) Phelan M. Ebenhack/Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 2 / 21
Central Florida defensive back Aaron Robinson (31) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Navy Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Orlando, Fla. UCF won 35-24. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) Phelan M. Ebenhack/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved 3 / 21
Central Florida defensive back Aaron Robinson (31) tips the ball away from Houston wide receiver Marquez Stevenson (5) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019.Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)
Brigham Young quarterback Zach Wilson (1) is sacked by Houston defensive lineman Payton Turner (98) during a game from last season. Photo courtesy of Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports For the seventh straight NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints selected a lineman with their first or second overall se .