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In the immediate wake of the New Orleans Saints' draft in 2008, the team's front office was showered with praise for the selections it had made.

On that April Saturday afternoon five years ago, the Saints traded up to draft one of the most coveted defensive tackles in the draft, USC's Sedrick Ellis with the seventh pick.

They also landed cornerback Tracy Porter in the second round, before selecting defensive tackle DeMario Pressley (in the fifth round), offensive guard Carl Nicks (fifth round), kicker Taylor Mehlhaff (sixth round) and receiver Adrian Arrington (seventh round).

If nothing else, it appeared to be a solid draft, with grades ranging from an "A" to a "B-minus."

USA Today was one of the publications that gave the Saints a B-minus for their selections, while stating the Saints "clearly looked to beef up defense and did so with first three choices. Premium is now on the front four and Sedrick Ellis gives them a terrific interior presence to go with some decent rush guys. DT DeMario Pressley, a fifth-rounder, could also surprise. Got secondary help in CB Tracy Porter. Deal to get TE Jeremy Shockey from New York Giants never happened."

The Saints did eventually land Shockey in a trade.

And while Nicks is the only member of the 2008 draft class that went on to become a bona-fide star, three members -- Nicks, Porter and Ellis -- did play vital roles in helping the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV.

But five years after the 2008 draft was expected to shore up the Saints' roster for years to come, none of the five players drafted that year remain with the team, and only Nicks and Porter are currently on an NFL roster.

Keeping with the ever-changing NFL landscape, the Saints are one of eight teams, who no longer have any of its drafts picks from to 2008 still on the roster.

The other seven are the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers.

With the NFL draft starting Thursday, the Saints likely hope they can keep this upcoming draft class around a bit longer.

Talking to reporters at the NFL owners meeting in March, Saints Coach Sean Payton said that turnover rate seems to be multiplied for him because he missed an entire season while serving his suspension for his role in the team's bounty scandal. Payton even said there were moments when he walked the halls of the Saints' Metairie training facility and met a player from last season's squad for the first time.

"I kind of looked at that as we are kind of starting new in '13, just like I was hired this past offseason," Payton said.

In many ways the Saints are starting over, as there likely will be more roster changes before the regular season starts.

The Saints, who have five picks in this week's NFL draft, certainly will add some players to their roster, which has changed drastically from the team that captured the Super Bowl title in February 2010.

Since winning the only Super Bowl in franchise history, the Saints have retained just 14 of the players from that championship squad.

The Baltimore Ravens, who captured Super Bowl XLVII in February at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, are losing players at an even greater pace, as they have already lost nine starters from their championship team.

But that appears to be life of the NFL now, one that the Saints are all too familiar with.

SAINTS 2008 DRAFT CLASS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Rd. Pick Pos. Player Current team

1. (7) DT Sedrick Ellis Free agent

2. (40) CB Tracy Porter Raiders

5. (144) DT DeMorio Pressley Out of NFL

5. (164) OG Carl Nicks Buccaneers

6. (178) PK Taylor Mehlhaff Out of NFL

7. (237) WR Adrian Arrington Free agent

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2013/04/new_orleans_saints_2008_draft.html

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