New Orleans Saints

After watching former teammate Reggie Bush take the low road when the Saints selected Mark Ingram in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft, free safety Malcolm Jenkins, a three-year starter, wants no part of that.

When the Saints used their first-round pick to grab safety Kenny Vaccaro, Jenkins wasted no time in welcoming the rookie to the team -- even though it could have an effect on Jenkins' job security going forward.

Bush tweeted, "It's been fun New Orleans," immediately after the Saints traded two picks to get back into the first round and take Ingram with the 28th overall selection in 2011.

Bush, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins three months later, made things uncomfortable enough before departing and Jenkins didn't want to see that again,

"It makes it an awkward situation in the locker room," Jenkins said.

So, in the hours after the Saints got Vaccaro with the 15th overall pick, Jenkins took to Twitter himself to make the former Texas standout feel at home in his new home.

Jenkins tweeted: "Ya'll welcome @kennyvaccaro4 to the fam!! I think that was a solid pick! Lets get it ... Who Dat!!"

It might not have been an easy thing to do for most veterans, but the classy Jenkins thought it was necessary even though Vaccaro will be out to try and unseat him or the other incumbent starter -- strong safety Roman Harper.

"If you kind of look back at history, you see when we drafted Mark Ingram, how Reggie handled it ... it was kind of the opposite," Jenkins said.

If nothing else, Jenkins knows Vaccaro gives the Saints some options in the back end of the secondary after they ranked 31st against the pass in 2012 while allowing an NFL single-season record of 7,042 total yards.

If Vaccaro doesn't win a starting job, the 6-foot, 214-pounder could play in the nickel -- which would put him on the field at the same time with Jenkins and Harper -- and in other roles as he did in helping the University of Texas defense go against numerous spread offenses.

As a result, Jenkins is seeing the bigger picture and the possibility of getting better in a hurry with Vaccaro and defensive tackle John Jenkins, a third-round pick, as they switch to a 3-4 scheme under Rob Ryan.

"(Ryan) is going to do what our players do best and allow us to flourish in our strengths as opposed to trying to fit into his mode," Malcolm Jenkins said. "I think that's going to be good for us."

• The Saints signed all five players they selected in the April 25-27 draft before the first practice of their rookie minicamp, which began May 10.

  On the night before the minicamp started, general nanager Mickey Loomis announced that the team signed safety Kenny Vaccaro, their first-round pick, as well as tackle Terron Armstead (third round), wide receiver Kenny Stills Jr. (fifth round) and outside linebacker Rufus Johnson (sixth round).

  The next morning, the Saints announced that defensive tackle John Jenkins, who was a third-round pick along with Armstead, had signed as well. All five players received four-year contracts.

• With their five draft picks and 13 other undrafted free agents in the fold, the Saints had a total of 70 players on the field for their three-day rookie minicamp that was held May 10-12.

  They practiced twice on Friday and Saturday and wrapped up the camp with a single workout Sunday. They went through an orientation period and also met with position coaches during their three-day stay.

  Among the 15 veteran players the Saints had in on a tryout basis was quarterback John Beck, who has played with the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins.

  Also taking part in the camp were five players who spent at least part of the 2012 season on the Saints' practice squad.

• Saints coach Sean Payton, a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, received an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree on May 4 from his alma mater.

  The Charleston, Ill., university bestowed the honorary degree upon Payton, who earned his bachelor's degree in 1987, in "recognition of his generosity and service to society."

  Payton was honored for his Play It Forward Foundation, which was created with the goal of raising funds and awareness for organizations fighting at the forefront for children and families in need.

  Payton enjoyed a record-setting career as a quarterback at Eastern Illinois from 1983-86. He was inducted into the EIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 and his No. 18 jersey was retired in 2010. He was also named a Distinguished Alumnus by the EIU Alumni Association.

Quote To Note:

"In this profession, it's going to come at some point in everyone's career … I'm looking forward to it. It's going to make me better, it's going to make me push myself and I think it's going to make our team better."

—Saints FS Malcolm Jenkins, on the selection of safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th overall pick in the draft.

A closer look at the Saints' picks:

Round 1/15—Kenny Vaccaro, S, 6-0, 214, Texas

Even though they wanted a playmaking outside linebacker, the Saints didn't mind when the versatile Vaccaro slipped to them at No. 15. He'll likely get a shot at playing time in the secondary early.

Round 3/75—Terron Armstead, T, 6-5, 304, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Armstead was viewed as one of the biggest risers in the draft and the Saints agreed, getting him in the third round even though they had a second-round grade on him because of his size and athleticism.

Round 3/82—John Jenkins, DT, 6-4, 359, Georgia

The Saints traded two fourth-round picks to get back into the third round to take this massive space-eater. Jenkins is agile for a big man and should get an early shot at helping at nose in the new 3-4 scheme.

Round 5/144—Kenny Stills Jr., WR, 6-0, 194, Oklahoma

While they weren't necessarily looking for a wideout going into the draft, the Saints couldn't pass up on a productive receiver with 4.38 speed who caught 204 passes and 24 touchdowns at Oklahoma.

Round 6/183—Rufus Johnson, OLB, 6-5, 272, Tarleton State

An unknown going into the draft because he played at a Division II school, the Saints like the pass-rushing Johnson for his length and 4.72 speed and plan to turn him into a outside linebacker.

Franchise Player:

None.

Transition Player:

None.

Unrestricted Free Agents

(5)

• DT Sedrick Ellis, a top-10 draft pick in 2008, hasn't shown much in the past three seasons and may want money than the Saints are willing to pay.

• WR Devery Henderson has seen his role diminished and likely won't be back with Joseph Morgan developing into Brees' new deep threat.

• CB Elbert Mack was released several times during the season, but had some moments in the nickel and may or may not be re-signed.

• T William Robinson was a fill-in because of injuries last season, but could be re-signed.

• LB Scott Shanle, a six-year starter, was a healthy inactive for much of the second half of the season and likely won't be offered a new deal.

Restricted Free Agents:

None.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents:

None.

Draft Choices Signed

• S Kenny Vaccaro (1/15): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

• T Terron Armstead (3/75): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

• NT John Jenkins (3/82): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

• WR Kenny Stills (5/144); 4 yrs, terms unknown.

• LB Rufus Johnson (6/183): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

Players Re-signed

• S Rafael Bush: Potential ERFA; $555,000/1 yr.

• C Brian de la Puente: RFAa tendered at $2.023M with second-round pick as compensation; $2.023M/1 yr.

• LS Justin Drescher: Not tendered as RFA; 4 yrs, terms unknown.

• LB Junior Galette: Potential RFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.

• TE Michael Higgins: Potential ERFA: $555,000/1 yr.

• LB Ramon Humber: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• LB Will Herring: FA, had been released by Saints; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• G Eric Olsen: Potential ERFA; $555,000/1 yr.

• WR Courtney Roby: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.

Players Acquired

• DE Baraka Atkins: FA; terms unknown.

• LB Victor Butler: UFA Cowboys; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

• DE Kenyon Coleman: UFA Cowboys; terms unknown.

• S Jim Leonhard: UFA Broncos; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• CB Keenan Lewis: UFA Steelers; $26M/5 yrs, $6M SB/$11M guaranteed.

• QB Luke McCown: UFA Falcons; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• DE Jay Richardson: FA: $715,000/1 yr.

• T Jason Smith: FA Jets; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• QB Seneca Wallace: FA; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• TE Benjamin Watson: UFA Browns; 3 yrs, terms unknown.

Players Lost

• T Jermon Bushrod: UFA Bears; $36M/5 yrs, $11M SB/$17.715M guaranteed.

• LB Jonathan Casillas: UFA Buccaneers; $3M/1 yr.

• QB Chase Daniel: UFA Chiefs; $10M/3 yrs, $3M SB/$4.8M guaranteed.

• RB Chris Ivory: RFA tendered at $2.023M with second-round pick as compensation; $2.023M/1 yr, then traded to New Orleans.

• DE Turk McBride: UFA Bears; 1 yr, terms unknown.

• CB Johnny Patrick (released)

• TE David Thomas (released)