2020 Saints Draft Tracker | New Orleans Saints | NewOrleansSaints.com
Round 1
Olave (pronounced oh-LAH-vay) showed glimpses of his talent as a true freshman in 2018 (12-197-16.4, three TDs in 14 games), just one year after excelling (1,764 yards, 26 TDs) as a senior at Mission Hills High School in California -- he was ineligible to play his junior year due to a transfer issue. He gained 15 pounds of solid muscle between his freshman and sophomore seasons at Ohio State, and there was an immediate benefit. Olave garnered third-team All-Big Ten accolades, becoming an essential target for Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Justin Fields as the team leader in receiving yards and touchdowns (48-840-17.5, 12 TDs in 14 games, six starts). Olave showed maturity at the end of the season, taking the blame for slipping on a route where Fields threw an interception at the end of the national semifinal game against Clemson. He was the Buckeyes' top receiving option in 2020, finishing the season among the national leaders in receptions and receiving yards (50-729-14.6) while starting all seven games to earn first-team all-conference honors for the FBS runner-up. He received second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-conference notice in his final year, tying for sixth in the FBS with 13 receiving TDs to become the school's all-time leader in the category. His 35 beat out NFL stars David Boston, Cris Carter and Santonio Holmes. Olave caught 65 passes for 936 yards (14.4 per rec.) in 12 starts for the Buckeyes, opting out of the team's bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. He was also named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award for excellence on and off the field. -- by Chad Reuter
- Meet the 2022 Saints Draft Picks
- Chris Olave reacts to heartfelt 2022 NFL Draft letter | 2022 Saints Draft
- 2022 NFL Draft Photos: Saints draft pick Chris Olave in Las Vegas
- Dennis Allen discusses Saints' 1st round draft picks | 2022 NFL Draft
- Saints wide receiver Chris Olave introductory media availability | 2022 NFL Draft
- New Orleans Saints add two big pieces to offense with receiver Chris Olave, tackle Trevor Penning
- Inside the Saints war room as they call Chris Olave ahead of his selection
- Chris Olave runs official 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 2022 combine
- Back stage for Saints 2022 draft pick Chris Olave's selection
- Breaking down Chris Olave's college highlights 2022 NFL Draft
- Chris Olave's 2022 NFL Scouting Combine workout
- Five things to know about receiver Chris Olave | 2022 Saints Draft Pick 11
- 2022 NFL Draft Photos: Meet Saints Draft Pick Chris Olave
- New Orleans Saints trade up to select Ohio State receiver Chris Olave with the 11th pick in first round of the 2022 NFL Draft
Penning got on NFL scouts' radar while earning honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Football Conference notice for the Panthers in 2020 as a six-game starter (five at left tackle, one at right tackle). He cemented his status as a top prospect during the 2021 season, when he garnered first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference recognition and was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the top player at the FCS level after starting all 12 games on the blind side. The Clear Lake, Iowa product started all 15 games in 2019, the first contest at right guard and the final 14 at left tackle. As a redshirt freshman, Penning played in four games as a reserve. His brother, Jared, starts at left guard for UNI. -- by Chad Reuter
- Meet the 2022 Saints Draft Picks
- Dennis Allen discusses Saints' 1st round draft picks | 2022 NFL Draft
- Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning introductory media availability | 2022 NFL Draft
- New Orleans Saints add two big pieces to offense with receiver Chris Olave, tackle Trevor Penning
- Inside the Saints war room as they call Trevor Penning ahead of his selection
- Trevor Penning runs official 4.89-second 40-yard dash at 2022 combine
- Back stage for Saints 2022 draft pick Trevor Penning's selection
- Five things to know about tackle Trevor Penning | 2022 Saints Draft Pick 19
- Trevor Penning's 2022 NFL Scouting Combine workout
- Trevor Penning announced as Saints first draft pick | 2022 NFL Draft
- 2022 NFL Draft Photos: Meet Saints Draft Pick Trevor Penning
- New Orleans Saints select Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning with Pick 19 in the 2022 NFL Draft
Round 2
Taylor was an All-Tennessee quarterback at Coffee County Central High School. He enrolled in Knoxville a semester early and moved to cornerback. He earned eight starts in 12 games in his first year (40 tackles, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles). Taylor started six of 13 games the following season (33 tackles, one interception, three pass breakups) and then battled a hamstring injury throughout 2020 (29 tackles, two for loss, one interception, four pass breakups in eight games, five starts). He started 12 games in 2021, setting career highs with 60 tackles, two interceptions (one returned for a score), and six pass breakups in 12 starts. Taylor opted out of the team's bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. -- by Chad Reuter
- Meet the 2022 Saints Draft Picks
- Dennis Allen discusses Saints' 2nd round draft pick | 2022 NFL Draft
- Saints defensive back Alontae Taylor introductory media availability | 2022 NFL Draft
- Moving from receiver to defensive back pays off for New Orleans Saints draft pick Alontae Taylor
- Inside the Saints Draft Room: Alontae Taylor gets the call from Dennis Allen | 2022 NFL Draft
- Saints select Alontae Taylor with No. 49 pick in second round | 2022 NFL Draft
- Five things to know about Alontae Taylor | 2022 Saints Draft Pick 49
- Alontae Taylor highpoints underthrown ball for INT vs. Carson Strong | 2022 Senior Bowl
- Alontae Taylor runs official 4.36-second 40-yard dash at 2022 combine
- New Orleans Saints select Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with Pick 49 in the 2022 NFL Draft
Round 5
Jackson was a two-star recruit despite being a South Carolina Mr. Football finalist his senior year at Broome High School in Spartanburg. Appalachian State signed him in the class of 2017, redshirting him his first year on campus. Jackson played in all 13 games as a reserve the following season (25 tackles, two for loss) then started six of 14 appearances in 2019 (60 tackles, 6.5 for loss with three sacks, two pass breakups). Sun Belt Conference coaches voted him second-team all-conference in 2020 as a 12-game starter and stat-sheet stuffer. He tied for the team lead with 91 tackles, including 6.5 for loss with 2.5 sacks, and added two interceptions and six pass breakups. Jackson ascended again in 2021, ranking fourth in the FBS with 19 tackles for loss and leading his squad with 119 total tackles, while also posting six sacks, one interception and five pass breakups in 14 starts, to earn the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award and first-team all-league recognition. -- by Chad Reuter
- Meet the 2022 Saints Draft Picks
- Saints linebacker D'Marco Jackson introductory media availability | 2022 NFL Draft
- Inside the Saints Draft Room: D'Marco Jackson gets the call from Dennis Allen | 2022 NFL Draft
- Five things to know about D'Marco Jackson | 2022 Saints Draft Pick 161
- Saints draft pick D'Marco Jackson runs 40-yard dash at 2022 combine
- New Orleans Saints select Appalachian State linebacker D'Marco Jackson with Pick 161 in the 2022 NFL Draft
Round 6
Jordan Jackson
DT Air ForceJackson has contributed since his freshman year for the Falcons, when he played in 11 games as a reserve defensive end (seven tackles). The two-time All-City selection from Jacksonville's Bolles High School became a starter in 2018, earning second-team All-Mountain West Conference honors with a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss, including a safety, and 4.5 sacks among his 54 total stops. Jackson was an honorable mention all-conference performer as a junior (38 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, one blocked kick in 13 games, 12 starts). He opted out of the 2020 season, rehabilitating a shoulder injury and working as an Uber Eats driver. Jackson finished his college career garnering second-team all-conference recognition in 2021 (41 tackles, 12.5 for loss with 7.5 sacks in 12 starts). -- by Chad Reuter