New Orleans Saints
Picks: SS Kenny Vaccaro, OT Terron Armstead, DT John Jenkins, WR Kenny Stills, DE Rufus Johnson.
Analysis: Vaccaro was clearly the best safety available in a strong group for that position (three went in the first round and another went with the top pick of the second round). Vaccaro has a certain confidence and edginess that coach Sean Payton loves. More importantly, he can play either strong, free or even cornerback in a pinch. Armstead walks in as a likely starter on a team that historically has gotten by with lesser offensive tackles. Likewise, Jenkins is a likely starter in New Orleans’ new 3-4 defense and is a terrific space eater … as long as he doesn’t eat his way out of the league.
Grade: B+

From here

Linebacker Scott Fujita signed a one-day contract with the New Orleans Saints on Monday while he was on a hiking expedition in the Andes Mountains. Fujita signed the deal so he could retire from the NFL as a member of the Saints.Photo courtesy of the New Orleans Saints

NEW ORLEANS, La. —Normally, I wait until the annual Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., to unveil my first mock draft, but after the Saints lost to the Carolina Panthers 44-38 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, I figured why wait.

Pat Yasinskas

Sean Payton’s second rebuilding job might be more of a chore than his first.

Friday night’s news that Payton and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to the outline of a new contract extension should bring joy to a fan base that’s been suffering since the bounty scandal broke back in March. Go ahead and celebrate a bit, because this means Payton isn’t jumping over to the Dallas Cowboys.

Payton

But don’t automatically assume that Payton’s stepping back in will instantly repair all that’s wrong with the Saints. Assuming the deal gets finalized and is approved by the NFL, which nullified Payton’s previous contract extension, the coach is going to have his work cut out for him when he rejoins the team.

The league previously has said Payton will be eligible to return from his season-long suspension the day after the Super Bowl. It’s a good thing Payton recently competed in a half-marathon, because he is going to have to hit the ground running if the Saints are going to get back to what they once were.

With Aaron Kromer coaching the first six games and Joe Vitt taking over after that, the Saints are 7-8 heading into Sunday’s season finale against Carolina. The Saints are missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Read more here.

By Adam Schefter | ESPN

Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to a five-year contract extension, according to a league source.

The terms of the extension are undisclosed, but may be similar to the deal that was earlier disapproved by the league, according to a league source.

The Saints were given written permission by the NFL to negotiate a contract extension with the suspended Payton in November.

The extension agreed upon by Payton and the Saints was rejected by the league because it contained a clause allowing Payton to leave if general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended or departed the organization.

By Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com

What it means: After an 0-4 start, the Saints are now 5-5 and that at least puts them on the fringe of the playoff picture. It still is going to take a pretty miraculous finish for the Saints to get into the postseason. But hey, a month ago, their season appeared to be over. At the very least, the Saints are going to remain relevant for the next few weeks. At best, they’ll make the playoffs and be one of the great turnaround stories in recent history.

Read more here

Jon Menges might be the most famous New Orleans Saints fan in the country right now. But he said he had no idea he would earn so much national notoriety and become a hero to the Who Dat Nation when he pulled off the priceless photo with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this week while wearing his “Free Sean Payton” T-shirt

Can you say TOUCHDOWN !!