Saints coach Sean Payton said he liked what he saw in the team's top draft picks after getting them on the field for the first time during a three-day minicamp last week.

First-round pick Sedrick Ellis, a defensive tackle from Southern California, and second-round selection Tracy Porter, a cornerback from Indiana, made good impressions on the coaching staff during five practice sessions.

The Saints kept all of their newcomers under wraps for the most part as each of the workouts were closed to the media and public.

But Payton commended Ellis and Porter, as well as guard Carl Nicks, a fifth-round selection, and wide receiver Adrian Arrington, who was taken in the seventh round. Nicks played at Nebraska and Arrington is a former Michigan standout.

In addition to the team's six draft picks, the Saints had 16 undrafted free agents working out during the camp and another 32 players who attended the sessions on a tryout basis.

"It's hard to tell because you've got such a mixed group," Payton said after the first three workouts. "You've got to be mindful of who Porter's covering or who Ellis is beating on a double-team or who Nicks is blocking. You'll get a better indication of more specifically how they're doing with the veteran players."

The Saints have another minicamp scheduled for May 30-June 1 in which the team's veteran players will participate. Until then, Payton will have to go with what he saw in the first three-day session.

"Overall, I was encouraged with what I've seen from the (draft) class in general," he said. "The big guard from Nebraska (Nicks) has done a good job of stepping in. I think when you look at Ellis, he's been a pain in the rear for a couple days now, splitting double-teams and getting in the backfield.

"Porter showed some of the coverage skills that we were anticipating we'd see. And Arrington did a good job of just handling the assignments. He's a pretty sharp kid."

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.