By Mike Triplett | ESPN Staff Writer
METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints raised some eyebrows by drafting Houston defensive end Payton Turner with the 28th pick in the NFL draft, since he was selected sooner than most projected.
But it should come as no surprise that New Orleans’ DE draft board might look a little different than others.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Turner is joining a long line of long defensive ends with the Saints, who have coveted his type of size and length throughout the regime of coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis. And they have doubled down since assistant GM Jeff Ireland took over college scouting in 2015.
It’s a philosophy both Payton and Ireland gleaned from shared mentor Bill Parcells.
“Here’s the thing, you usually don’t see guys 6-foot-6, 270 with 35-inch arms who can bend like that. You just don’t,” ESPN analyst Matt Bowen said. “He fits the exact profile of what [defensive coordinator] Dennis Allen and the Saints want at the position. Look what they already have on the roster with Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport. Long, big, power 4-3 defensive ends.
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