Saints head coach Dennis Allen admitted the team was holding its breath a bit as it watched the 7 picks come off the board after the aggressive move to select Chris Olave at No. 11.
The team had identified Trevor Penning as a clear target at a position of need. But they had little control over whether he'd still be around when they picked again. In the end he was, and the Saints landed a pair of top options at positions that sorely needed them.
"This guy is big, this guy is tough, this guy is nasty," Allen said. "He plays our type of football. ... We were ecstatic that he was sitting there when we got ready to pick at 19."
Listen to Penning's full interview in the player below. Can't see the embed? Click here.
But as far as Penning was concerned, he was well aware of the Saints' interest. He had spoken with team reps at the Senior Bowl, at the NFL Pro Scouting combine and his pro day.
He knew the Saints would be a fit, and as he sat at a restaurant in his hometown he raised his hands in triumph, because that's exactly where he landed.
“I can’t wait to get down there and go win a Super Bowl," Penning said. "I’m so excited to just be drafted in New Orleans. I think it’s going to be an incredible experience, and I’m excited.”
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There's also little mystery in his intended role. Penning knows he's going to have to compete for the starting job, but that job will be at left tackle, with Ryan Ramczyk sticking at right tackle, Allen said in his comments after the first round.
The size is evident. The skills are evident. The meanness is evident. And all that's left is to show it on the field. Penning was able to display that at the Senior Bowl as he got under opponent's skin and showcased that his small-school route wasn't going to be a limiting factor. So why did he end up at Northern Iowa instead of big brothers Iowa or Iowa State? He was a late bloomer, he said on WWL Radio. He grew 2 inches in college and put on 80 pounds.
"I bet Iowa and Iowa State aren’t too happy seeing a first-rounder," Penning said. "I don’t think Iowa State has had a first-rounder in a while.”
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