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'If I'm one of the best five on the field and they give me the opportunity to start and I earn that right, then I'm going to play wherever they put me'

By John DeShazier - New Orleans Saints

In the end, it wasn't at all a surprise.

New Orleans Saints first-year coach Kellen Moore and Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis were symbiotic in their belief of building a team inside-out, fortifying the offensive and defensive lines as the top priority.

The Saints took another step toward that goal Thursday night in the first round of the NFL Draft, selecting Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with the ninth overall pick – the second consecutive year New Orleans has taken an offensive tackle in the first round and the fourth time in the last seven years that the Saints have selected an offensive lineman with their first pick.

"This is a trenches game, this is a game that is won up front in a lot of ways and obviously, my background has been around that in a lot of places I've been and certainly this place is invested in it, and we feel like we can continue to do that," Moore said. "So we feel like we're building a strength in that offensive line. We've got a ton of really good talent there and we're really excited about that."

Banks, a unanimous All-American last season who won the Outland, Lombardi and Jacobs Blocking trophies, expected an early call in the draft and received it from the Saints.

"I definitely felt like the Saints were an option," he said. "My meter on the draft meter was from a position of 6 on down, so I felt pretty confident when I talked to the Saints at the Combine and they felt pretty confident in me, obviously, because they picked me. ...

Read the Full Story - New Orleans Saints

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ARTICLES FROM NEWORLEANS.FOOTBALL (PAY SITE - SOME FREE CONTENT):

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> Mike Triplett: Why the Saints landed on Kelvin Banks

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> John Hendrix: Players the Saints Could Target On Day 2 of the Draft and Team Needs

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> John Hendrix: Kelvin Banks Jr. Details Play Style, Big Meetings With Saints

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> Nick Underhill: Saints beef up offensive line with selection of Kelvin Banks Jr.

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> John Hendrix: Breaking Down Spencer Rattler's Rookie Season With the Saints

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MORE SAINTS RELATED NEWS:

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ARTICLES FROM SAINTS OFFICIAL SITE:

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> Saints select Kelvin Banks Jr. with the ninth pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

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> New Orleans Saints 2025 NFL Draft day one notes

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> Kelvin Banks Jr.: Five things to know about the Saints' 2025 first round draft pick

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> Saints 2025 NFL Draft: Day 1 Need to Know

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> Morning Break: Saints open 2025 NFL Draft day by exercising Chris Olave’s fifth-year option

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OTHER SOURCES:

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> LouisianaSports.net: David Carr updates brother Derek’s status with Saints

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> AtoZ Sports: Drafting Kelvin Banks Jr. proves that New Orleans Saints HC Kellen Moore hasn't been lying to fans recently

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> AtoZ Sports: New Orleans Saints' biggest needs entering Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft after taking Kelvin Banks Jr. in Round 1

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> WDSU: The Saints pass on quarterback at No. 9 in the NFL Draft to select a very familiar position

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> Bleacher Report: Kelvin Banks Jr. NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for New Orleans Saints IOL

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> Austin American: New Orleans Saints pick Kelvin Banks Jr. in 1st round of NFL draft

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> LouisianaSports.net: Five players to watch at no. 9 overall for the Saints

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> Athlon Sports: Final New Orleans Saints 7-Round NFL Mock Draft

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> LouisianaSports.net: Saints draft impacted by lack of clarity on Carr’s future

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> Athlon Sports: New Orleans Saints Have Clear Opinion on QB Prospect Jaxson Dart: Report

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> NFL.com: NFL news roundup: Latest league updates from Thursday, April 24

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> Athlon Sports: Saints No Longer Betting Odds Favorite to Draft Two Top QB Prospects

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> Athlon Sports: Final 2025 NFL Draft First Round Predictions For the Saints

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> WGNO: Fans confident in Saints front office ahead of Draft Night

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> WBRZ: The Saints look to make a splash in the 2025 NFL Draft on WBRZ

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> LouisianaSports.net: JACKSON: Final Saints first round prediction for NFL Draft

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RUMORS & SPECULATION:

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> Sporting News: Saints' Aaron Rodgers pursuit still alive after New Orleans QB decision at No. 9 draft pick

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PODCASTS & VIDEO:

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.. Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore on New Orleans selecting OT Kelvin Banks with the 9th overall pick

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.. Saints Draft Kelvin Banks Jr. w/ No. 9 Pick | 2025 NFL Draft

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.. Kelvin Banks Jr. Raw Highlights from Texas | New Orleans Saints

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.. Highlight Reel New Orleans Saints take Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9 | 2025 NFL Draft

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.. New Orleans Saints Select Kelvin Banks Jr. with the No. 9 Pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

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.. 2025 NFL Draft 1st Round WATCH PARTY | JAMES SKRMETTA REACTS LIVE

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.. New Orleans Saints 2025 NFL Draft Live Reaction Day 1

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.. New Orleans Saints Have FUTURE TACKLE TANDEM For the Next 10 Years | NFL Draft Reaction Kelvin Banks

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.. New Orleans Saints Select OT Kelvin Banks Jr. | 2025 NFL Draft | PFF

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.. Saints Draft Grades: New Orleans Saints Pick Kelvin Banks Jr. At #9 Pick In Round 1 | 2025 NFL Draft

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.. Kelvin Banks Jr. drafted at No. 9 by the Saints | Pat McAfee Draft Spectacular

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.. 2025 NFL Draft Grades: Saints receive ‘B+’ for selecting OT Kelvin Banks Jr. No. 9 overall

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.. 2025 NFL Draft Watch-Along | Who Will the Saints Pick in Round 1?

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.. Saints new coaches look to fill team needs | Saints Draft Preview Part 1

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.. Top prospects for Saints picks in rounds 1-3 | Saints Draft Preview Part 2

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.. Saints have no answers on Derek Carr (Right Now). So what does it mean? + Mock

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.. DRAFT PREDICTION: Why New Orleans Saints Will Make A SPLASH In Round One!!

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.. FINAL PREDICTION: New Orleans Saints, Kelvin Banks Jr. First-Round Match | QB Trade Up May Not Work

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.. Former Falcons GM: Saints At "Crossroads" With QB | Will New Orleans Move On From Derek Carr?

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.. Ranking The Saints Top 2025 Draft Options at Pick #9

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.. DRAFT DAY: New Orleans Saints Set To SHOCK And DISAPPOINT In This Year's NFL Draft | Shough-Watch

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.. Are Saints IN LOVE With Jaxson Dart?! | New Orleans WILL Draft A QB In 2025!

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.. SAINTS SQUAD SHOW: New Orleans Saints DREAM DRAFT SCENARIOS In Days 1 & 2 Of NFL Draft

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.. Will Saints Draft Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart No. 9 Overall In NFL Draft?

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.. New Orleans Saints Draft Preview with Fletcher Mackel

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.. Are New Orleans Saints HIGH On Jaxson Dart At 9th Overall NFL Draft Pick??

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.. You Won’t BELIEVE Who The Saints Are Drafting In Round 1 Of The 2025 NFL Draft

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.. Did Saints Make Right Decisions On Chris Olave, Trevor Penning Fifth-Year Options?

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.. The Final 2025 Saints NFL Mock Draft

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