New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - NOLA.com New Orleans Saints busy as usual trying to secure undrafted rookie free agents

The top sales pitch for the New Orleans Saints in luring undrafted rookie free agents to signing with the team consists of rattling off the long list of undrafted players who the Saints have kept on their roster through the last few years.

The long undrafted Saints résumé under Saints Coach Sean Payton includes Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, Junior Galette, Jonathan Casillas, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Travaris Cadet, Isa Abdul-Quddus, Joe Morgan, Justin Drescher, Garrett Hartley, Tyrunn Walker, Michael Higgins. Lance Moore was also an undrafted rookie free agent from the Jim Haslett era.

"I think that's one of the things that we sell is that we've had a number of college free agents come in and make our team and we're not afraid to measure that against a draft pick," Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said. "Whoever is the best player, we let that person win the competition. Sean always says that it doesn't matter how you get here, once you're here you're ours and we're going to let the best player win."

Payton said shortly before the end of the draft how the Saints should look at signing numerous players at numerous positions depending some on if the Saints are light at a position group.

"The tight end right now might have one or two magnets behind them, the receiver may have one, there might be a few magnets inside guard, maybe one at right tackle, running back there may be one, quarterback one, and then you do this throughout your depth chart and your numbers equal 90," Payton said. "Now that being said, if there is a highly graded player at a position where you don't necessarily have a magnet, that wouldn't keep you from recruiting and trying to sign that player and then you might have to be one heavy there or make a decision there.

"But you are still paying attention to the grade in trying to bring in the best group of free agents as opposed to 'just needing this linebacker.' There are players to get at every position. The trick, or hopefully the challenge is to find guys. Do they play special teams? What unique thing do they do to make them compete for a roster spot? That's what is going to take place here and is taking place right now."

Read more: New Orleans Saints busy as usual trying to secure undrafted rookie free agents | NOLA.com

I'm really surprised Chris Faulk did not get drafted... you have to wonder how he's really recovering from his injury. If he's healthy, I really hope we take a look at him. He had a lot... a lot of potential prior to his injury.

The list of players we've come across has been pretty impressive for being UDFA's.