Saints Day 2 draft picks Foskey, Miller eager to work with mentors

METAIRIE – The New Orleans Saints’ second- and third-round draft picks are eager to meet their new mentors.

On Friday night the Saints used their No. 2 pick (No. 40 overall) to select Notre Dame defensive end Isaiah Foskey, who plays the same position as Cameron Jordan, New Orleans’ all-time sack leader who will be entering his 13th season as Foskey begins his first.

Later in the night they used their No. 3 pick (No. 71 overall) to select TCU running back Kendre Miller, who plays the same position as Alvin Kamara, who has earned five Pro Bowl selections in his six seasons while becoming the franchise’s No. 3 all-time rusher.

In a conference call with New Orleans reporters about an hour after his selection, Foskey said he “loved the vibe of the whole team,” but was especially excited about learning from Jordan, whom he called “a Hall of Fame type guy.”

Miller said he was looking forward to learning in a similar way from Kamara, saying they possess “the same attributes.”

Jordan, a No. 1 pick in 2011, and Kamara, a No. 3 in 2017, remain two of the Saints’ most important players and they can shepherd the newcomers through their NFL initiations in preparation for them perhaps someday taking over similar leadership roles.

The Saints started the second day of the draft the same way they ended the first day.

They selected Foskey less than 24 hours after picking defensive tackle Bryan Bresee of Clemson with the 29th pick in the first round Thursday night.

Foskey (6-foot-5, 264 pounds) helps upgrade a position that saw the departure of 2018 No. 1 pick Marcus Davenport to Minnesota in free agency.

In addition to Jordan, defensive end also features 2021 No. 1 pick Payton Turner, Tanoh Kpassagnon, who’s entering his seventh season, and Carl Granderson, who’s entering his fifth season.

“The Saints were the team I wanted to go to,” Foskey said.

Foskey played four seasons for the Fighting Irish, making all 25 of his career starts in the last two seasons. He had 11 sacks in each of the last two seasons and finished with a school-record 26.5. He forced six fumbles in 2021.

Head coach Dennis Allen said that even with the Notre Dame sack record, Foskey is still “a developing pass rusher.”

In addition to his contributions on the defensive line, Foskey blocked four punts with the Fighting Irish and spent some time on the kickoff team while Brian Kelly was head coach before leaving to become head coach at LSU after the 2021 season.

“When you hear about his sacks you get the impression he’s an edge guy, a third-down guy,” Notre Dame defensive line coach/run game coordinator Al Washington said. “But Isaiah is an every-down guy. He can play anywhere across the line.”

Washington said he was more impressed by the 11 sacks in 2022 than the 11 sacks in 2021.

“Last year was harder because he was no longer a secret,” Washington said. “Two years ago he had just come out of the wrapper. Last year he was able to overcome the targeting and the game planning against him.”

Allen said he sees Breese as a tackle and Foskey as an end, but both have “versatility” that the Saints will examine in order to determine how best to utilize them.

“(Foskey) has not scratched the surface,” said Irish head coach Marcus Freeman, who was promoted from defensive coordinator before last season to replace Kelly. “He is not a finished product. That’s what’s most intriguing about him is the constant improvement that will continue.”

Miller, who rushed for 1,399 yards as a junior for the CFP runner-up Horned Frogs last season, gives the Saints a complement to Kamara and former Detroit Lion Jamaal Williams, who was signed as a free agent.

He’s also insurance against a potential Kamara suspension as Kamara awaits a summer court date in Las Vegas after being charged with felony battery.

Miller, who averaged 6.7 yards per carry in his college career, missed the CFP title game against Georgia because of a sprained MCL suffered in the semifinal victory against Michigan that prevented him from participating in TCU’s Pro Day and the NFL Combine.

Allen said the Saints saw on film that Miller is a power runner who also has the speed to be “a home-run hitter.” Miller said he’ll be ready to go full speed for training camp.

“I’m ready to get to work,” Miller said. “I’m versatile. People are going to see someone who runs really, really fast, but I can give you speed and power.”

On Saturday the Saints have a No. 4 (No. 115) pick, two No. 5s (No. 146 and No. 165) and two No. 7s (No. 227 and No. 257).