The New Orleans Saints are currently scheduled to take the 56th overall pick in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 29. Looking back at the last ten selections with this choice, several players have gone on to have solid NFL careers. Seven of the ten players picked at 56th are still playing in the NFL. Below is a review of the last ten 56th selections.
2010: DE Mike Neal, Purdue to Green Bay
2009: DT Fili Moala, Southern California to Indianapolis
*2008: QB Brian Brohm, Louisville to Green Bay *
2007: DE Tim Crowder, Texas to Denver
2006: C Chris Chester, Oklahoma to Baltimore
2005: CB Darrent Williams, Oklahoma State to Denver
2004: S Madieu Williams, Maryland to Cincinnati
2003: DE Osi Umenyiora, Troy to New York Giants
2002: RB Ladell Betts, Iowa to Washington
2001: S Tony Dixon, Alabama to Dallas
From the list above, defensive ends have been selected three times at the 56th slot.
Picked by the New York Giants in 2003 out of Troy, Umenyiora has been the standout of the group, being selected to multiple Pro Bowl and Associated Press All-Pro Squads and being a part of the Super Bowl XLII championship team.
Ascending into the starting lineup, midway through his second NFL season, Umenyiora has recorded 60 sacks, 28 forced fumbles and 13 fumble recoveries. Three times, he has reach double digits in quarterback takedowns. In 2010, he showed no signs of slowing down as he finished tied for seventh on the club and first on his team with 11.5 sacks, while leading the league with an NFL single-season record ten forced fumbles (unofficial statistic). He was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October when he had seven takedowns and the Giants were undefeated and was an *AP *second-team All-Pro selection.
Chosen by the Indianapolis Colts out of USC in 2009, the 6-4, 303 pound Moala started every game on the interior of the defensive line in 2010
Picked by Green Bay in 2008, Brohm currently serves as starter Ryan Fitzpatrick's backup in Buffalo.
Chosen by Denver in 2007, Crowder eventually found his niche when he joined Tampa Bay in 2009. He has served as a valuable member of their defensive line rotation, recording 6.5 sacks the last two seasons and moved into the starting lineup midway through the last campaign as the surprising Bucs made a playoff push.
Picked by the Baltimore Ravens in 2006, Chester has found a home as the starting right guard for the Ravens since 2008. He played a key role in 2010 blocking for Ravens RB Ray Rice, who finished sixth in the AFC and tenth in the NFL with 1,220 yards rushing.
Chosen by Denver in 2005, Williams was an immediate starter in the Denver secondary opposite perennial All-Pro Champ Bailey for two seasons until his unfortunate death in a shooting on New Years Day in 2007.
Chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2004, Williams has appeared in 88 games with 83 starts for Cincinnati and Minnesota and recorded 483 tackles with 12 interceptions, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. The Sierra Leone native finished 2010 with a career-high 94 tackles, added one sack, one forced fumble and one interception for Minnesota.
Betts is a nine-year NFL veteran who joined the Saints after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Washington Redskins. Serving both in a feature and complementary role, he's carried 821 times for 3,326 yards with 15 touchdowns and made 188 receptions for 1,646 yards with three touchdowns. In 2010, Betts was one of a group of backs that helped spell for an injured Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. He played in seven games and had 45 carries for 150 yards with two touchdowns and had 23 receptions for 141 yards.
