Saints take OT Armstead 75th overall, make deals to also draft DT Jenkins 82nd

METAIRIE, La. – The Saints selected offensive tackle Terron Armstead with their own third-round pick in the NFL draft, then made a pair of quick trades that allowed New Orleans to also draft defensive tackle John Jenkins in the same round.

The 6-foot-5, 306-pound Armstead, picked 75th overall out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, was New Orleans' first pick on Friday night. The Saints were docked their second-round selection as part of their punishment stemming from the NFL's 2012 bounty findings.

In order to get Jenkins, the Saints first traded reserve running back Chris Ivory to the New York Jets for a fourth-round pick. New Orleans then sent both its own fourth-round pick and the one acquired from New York to Miami in exchange for the Dolphins' 82nd overall choice.

Armstead gives the Saints depth at offensive tackle following the departure of former starting left tackle Jermon Bushrod to Chicago in free agency. Charles Brown, a 2010 second-round pick out of Southern California, could be Bushrod's successor at that spot. The pick of Armstead was announced by former Saints special teams leader Steve Gleason, who has ALS.

The Saints took Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with their first-round pick, 15th overall, on Thursday night. The 6-foot-4, 346-pound Jenkins was the second defensive player the Saints drafted in hopes of helping a unit that gave up an NFL single-season record 7,042 yards last season.

Armstead started all 12 games at left tackle in his senior season. He also was invited to play at both the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.

He not only played football at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but also was on the track and field team, competing in shot put. He was named an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference player three times in football and took shot put titles as well.

He also is known to have exceptional foot speed for an offensive lineman, running the 40-yard dash in 4.71 seconds.

Jenkins started 13 games for Georgia last season and was credited with 50 tackles, including two for losses and a sack. He played nose tackle in Georgia's 3-4 defense and was credited for creating a lot of pressure on the quarterback and forcing hurried throws. That resume appears to make Jenkins a good fit in the new 3-4 defense that coordinator Rob Ryan is installing in New Orleans this season.