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METAIRIE, La. (AP)

A necessary but potentially awkward period has begun for Roman Harper and Malcolm Jenkins.

The defensive leaders and starting safeties find themselves tutoring a first-round draft choice who could very well take one of their jobs before long.

They knew this time was coming since New Orleans last month selected Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro 15th overall and coach Sean Payton said the Saints expect Vaccaro to contribute right away.

Harper, entering his eighth season, says mentors once helped him and now he needs to do the same.

Jenkins is in the fifth and last season of his contract. He says his focus is on winning now and that the addition of Vaccaro should help.

Vaccaro says he's felt fortunate to join a team with accomplished veterans willing to help him.

Saints' Harper, Jenkins begin mentoring Vaccaro - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."