The Saints went into Day 3 of the NFL draft with only two picks, and as of the 6th round that's all they came out with.
And those two players even had the same name (but no relation) in Appalachian State linebacker D'Marco Jackson and Air Force defensive tackle Jordan Jackson.
Listen to D'Marco Jackson's full interview with WWL Radio in the player below. Can't see the embed? Click here.
"I’m excited just to get to work," D'Marco Jackson said. "I feel like I’m a guy who’s got a lot to offer on defense and also on special teams to make a big difference.”
It was the second consecutive player, along with Alontae Jackson, who's work on special teams was touted quickly after his selection. He was also the third consecutive player drafted by the Saints out of the Senior Bowl, along with Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning, a familiar pool used by New Orleans to identify quality players. The Saints used No. 11 overall on Ohio State WR Chris Olave, a pick made after a trade which is what left the Saints with limited options on Day 2 and 3.
But what the Saints did land in their final picks was another set of "high-IQ" players, a clear target of a team with high aspirations and high expectations in all three phases. With that in mind, it's no surprise that one of the things touted by D'Marco Jackson was his affinity for film-grinding, a tendency that likely perked up Saints coaches immediately when he detailed his process, which he also relayed to Kristian Garic, Mike Detillier and Deuce McAllister on WWL after the selection.
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He said he typically breaks tape down in three phases. First he'll go by personnel. Next he'll go by formations. Finally he'll go by down-and-distance, with the goal of identifying what the opponent is seeking to do in all situations long before taking the field.
"I feel like football is 90% mental," he said. "Going in knowing your opponent, you should know what to expect, what they’re going to run. … I’m just watching a ton of film."
And when Jackson isn't grinding film? You might catch him wrestling a calf or riding a bull. That's not a joke, he grew up on a farm in South Carolina.
"That was a thing we did, calf wrestling," he said. "It was a hobby for me."