This was the seventh time in franchise history that New Orleans selected two players in the first round of the NFL Draft. The other years this occurred was 2017 (CB Marshon Lattimore and T Ryan Ramczyk), 2015 (G Andrus Peat and LB Stephone Anthony), 2011 (DE Cameron Jordan and RB Mark Ingram), 2002 (DE Charles Grant and WR Donte' Stallworth), 1993 (T William Roaf and TE Irv Smith) and 1975 (WR Larry Burton and G Kurt Schumacher).

Chris Olave, Wide Receiver, Ohio State

• Saints 1st round draft pick, No. 11

The New Orleans Saints traded up to the 11th spot in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft to select Ohio State receiver Chris Olave on Thursday, April 28.

The Saints, who were scheduled to pick at 16th and 19th in the first round, sent their 16th pick and some other assets to the Washington Commanders to select the 6-foot-1, 189-pounder from San Ysidro, Calif. In his senior year for the Buckeyes Olave caught 65 passes for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns. In his four-year career he had 176 catches for 2,711 yards with 35 touchdowns. He is the first receiver the Saints have drafted in the first round since Brandin Cooks in 2015.

He'll be paired with another former Buckeye in the Saints' receiving room, Michael Thomas, a second-round pick in 2016.

Olave's Career Receiving Statistics at Ohio State

Overview

• Olave was the first wideout taken in the first round by New Orleans since Brandin Cooks in 2014.
• Olave is only the eighth wide receiver taken in the first round by New Orleans all-time and the 71st wideout selected by the club all-time.
• Olave is the 17th Ohio State player picked in draft by New Orleans. The 17 Buckeyes picked in the first round are tied for the most by the Saints with Nebraska and Southern California.
• Olave joins fellow Buckeyes in CB Marshon Lattimore, WR Michael Thomas and TE Nick Vannett on the Saints roster.
• In four seasons at Ohio State, Olave finished his college career with 176 receptions for 2,711 yards (15.4 avg.) with 35 touchdowns over 47 games (24 starts).
• In 2021 as a senior, Olave was a first-team American Football Coaches Association All-American and consensus second-team All-American, catching 65 passes for 936 yards and 13 touchdowns, tied for sixth nationally in scoring grabs.
• As a junior in 2020, the San Ysidro, Calif. native played in only seven games (seven starts) and managed 50 receptions for 729 yards (14.6 avg.) and seven touchdowns, as Ohio State advanced to the College Football Playoff Championship game. In the semifinal win over Clemson, Olave caught six passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
• As a sophomore in 2019, Olave caught 49 passes for 849 yards (17.3 avg.) and 12 touchdowns.

Trevor Penning, Offensive Tackle, Northern Iowa

• Saints 1st round draft pick, No. 19

The New Orleans Saints selected Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning with the 19th pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 28.

Penning, a 6-foot-7, 325-pounder from Clear Lake, Iowa, was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the nation's top offensive player. He started all 12 games in 2021, his redshirt senior season.

Overview

• With the selection of Penning, it is the second time in three years that New Orleans has selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft after picking G/C Cesar Ruiz in 2020. Penning is the eighth tackle to be picked by New Orleans in the first round, joining Ryan Ramczyk (2017), Andrus Peat (2015), Jammal Brown (2005), Kyle Turley (1998), Roaf, Jim Dombrowski (1986) and Stan Brock (1980). He is the 44th tackle selected all-time by New Orleans.
• Penning is the first player ever selected from Northern Iowa. Northern Iowa is the 172nd college or university that the Saints have selected a player from.
• The 6-7, 329-pound Penning Played in 37 career games with 33 starts, opening his final 33 college contests at Northern Iowa.
• In 2021, he opened all 12 contests and was a consensus FCS All-American selection. He was a consensus All-American and was the only offensive lineman named as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, presented to the FCS national offensive player of the year.
• The Clear Lake, Iowa native played his junior campaign in the spring of 2021 and started five games at left tackle and one at right tackle, as he was named honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Alontae Taylor, Cornerback, Tennessee

• Saints 2nd round draft pick, No. 49

The New Orleans Saints selected Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor with the 49th pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Friday, April 29.

Taylor played in 45 games with 31 starts for the Volunteers. Taylor started his career at Tennessee as a wide receiver but moved to cornerback in 2018. He had 162 tackles with four interceptions and 19 passes defensed.

Taylor's Career Statistics at Tennessee

Overview

• Taylor is the 12th player taken from Tennessee by the Saints and the first since running back Alvin Kamara was taken in the third round in 2017. The 12 Tennessee players represent the fifth most selections from a specific college or university by New Orleans.
• Taylor joins Kamara, wide receiver Marquez Callaway, defensive tackle Shy Tuttle, defensive back Bryce Thompson and tight end Ethan Wolf as former Volunteers on the roster. The six Tennessee alums are the most on the Saints roster.
• This is the sixth consecutive year that the Saints have selected a player from the Southeastern Conference in the NFL Draft.
• Taylor was a high school quarterback at Coffee County (Manchester, Tenn.) High School, who began his college career at wide receiver before converting to defensive back in training camp of his freshman year.
• In four seasons in Knoxville, Taylor played in 45 games with 31 starts and finished with career totals of 162 tackles (115 solo), a split sack, five stops for loss, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery for a touchdown, four interceptions, one returned 56 yards for a touchdown and one blocked punt.
• In 2021 as a senior, Taylor started all 12 games he appeared in and posted 60 tackles, one stop for loss, one forced fumble and two interceptions, one pick brought back 56 yards for a touchdown at Kentucky. Taylor was a fourth-team Phil Steele All-SEC fourth-team selection and was invited to participate at the Reese's Senior Bowl, recording an interception in the all-star contest.
• As a junior in 2020, Taylor played in eight games with five starts and posted 29 tackles (22 solo), two stops for loss and one interception.
• As a sophomore in 2019, Taylor played in 13 games with six starts and finished with 33 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed.
• As a freshman in 2018, Taylor played in all 12 games with eight starts and became Tennessee's first true freshman defensive back to start a season opener since 2013. He recorded 40 tackles, one stop for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown, two passes defensed and one blocked punt.
• The 6-foot, 193-pound Taylor was a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, graduating in December with a communications degree. Taylor was voted by his player peers to the SEC Football Leadership Council in 2020, where he recently completed his second term as vice chair.

D'Marco Jackson, Linebacker, Appalachian State

• Saints 5th round draft pick, No. 161

The New Orleans Saints selected Appalachian State linebacker D'Marco Jackson with the 161st pick in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 30.

Jackson was the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and participated in this year's Reese's Senior Bowl. He had 120 tackles in 2021 with 19 tackles for loss and six sacks. He played 53 games at Appalachian State and had 295 tackles with 35 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.

Jackson's Career Statistics at Appalachian State

Overview

• Jackson is the first player the Saints have ever selected from Appalachian State, making Appalachian State the 173rd college or university the Saints have selected a player from.
• This is the second consecutive year New Orleans has picked a player from the Sun Belt Conference, after the Saints picked South Alabama wide receiver Kawaan Baker in the seventh round in 2021.
• This is the sixth consecutive year that the Saints have selected a player from the Southeastern Conference in the NFL Draft.
• In four seasons, the Spartanburg, S.C. native finished his college career with 296 tackles, 34 stops for loss, 11.5 sacks, three interceptions, 14 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and one touchdown (on the return of a blocked punt). He played in 53 career games with 32 starts, including 29 straight to end his career and was the only FBS player with more than 200 tackles and 25 stops for loss in the 2020 and 2021 seasons combined.
• In 2021, as a redshirt senior, Jackson earned second-team All-American recognition from Pro Football Network and was Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year as the team captain started all 14 games and finished the season with 120 tackles, 19.0 stops for loss, 6.0 sacks, one interception, six passes defensed, one forced fumbles and 27 quarterback pressures.
• Jackson was the only FBS player in the 2000s with a season that included at least 120 tackles, 19 stops for loss, six sacks and six passes defensed in the same season
• As a redshirt junior in 2020, Jackson started all 12 games at inside linebacker and was tied for the team lead with 91 tackles, 6.5 stops for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight passes defensed, four QB hurries and one fumble recovery. He was the only FBS player with at least 90 tackles, 6.5 stops for loss, 2.5 sacks, two picks and eight passes defensed. Jackson was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection from Phil Steele and second-team from the league.
• As a redshirt sophomore in 2019, Jackson played in 14 games with six starts and ranked fifth on the team with 60 tackles to go along with 6.5 stops for loss, three sacks, two passes defensed and one quarterback hurry. He also scored his first college touchdown on the 16-yard return of a blocked punt with 39 seconds left in the first half against Charlotte.
• As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Jackson played in all 13 games and totaled 25 tackles (tied for the team lead among underclassmen) with 2.0 stops for loss, one QB hurry and one pass breakup.
• The 6-1, 230-pound Jackson had graduated from Appalachian State and is pursuing a master's degree in business administration.

Jordan Jackson, Defensive Tackle, Air Force

• Saints 6th round draft pick, No. 194

The New Orleans Saints selected Air Force defensive tackle Jordan Jackson with the 194th pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday, April 30.

Jackson, a 6-foot-4, 294-pounder from Jacksonville, Fla., had 41 tackles with 7.5 sacks in 2021. He didn't play in 2020 but in 2019 he played in 13 games with 38 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Jackson played in 12 games in 2018 with 54 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

Jackson's Career Statistics at Air Force

Overview

• Jackson, 6-5, 285 pounds, is the first player the Saints have ever selected from Air Force, making the service academy the 174thcollege or university the Saints have selected a player from. Jackson is the ninth Air Force player taken in the draft all-time. This is the first time New Orleans has selected a football player from the Mountain West Conference, since they picked quarterback Garrett Grayson and defensive tackle Tyeler Davison in the 2015 NFL Draft. With Jackson's selection, it marks the second consecutive year that every player drafted by the Saints played their college football in a different conference.
• In four seasons, Jackson played in 49 games and finished his college career with 140 tackles, 15.5 sacks for a loss of 137 yards (second in AF history in career sack yardage), 29.5 stops for losses of 181 yards (eighth in AF history) and two blocked kicks. He was a two-time second-team All-Mountain West selection.
• After missing the 2020 season, in 2021, the Jacksonville, Fla., native started all 13 games and was a second-team All-Mountain West selection, recording 41 tackles, 12.5 stops for 91 yards in losses, 7.5 quarterback takedowns for losses of 79 yards and one blocked PAT, as he helped the Falcons to a 11-2 record.
• In 2019, Jackson played in 13 games with 12 starts and was honorable mention All-Mountain West, as he recorded 38 tackles, 4.5 stops for loss, 3.5 sacks and two passes defensed, as he helped the Falcons to a 10-3 record.
• In 2018, Jackson started all 12 games and earned second-team All-MWC, as he made 54 tackles and team-bests of 12.5 stops for loss and 4.5 sacks.
• Jackson graduated with a degree in management. In the summer of 2018, he completed survival training, the basic space operations program and a program in remote piloted aircraft. In the summer of 2019, he completed an engineering class and was on the cadet leadership cadre.