With the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints took Louisiana Tech offensive tackle Willie Roaf. The Saints acquired the pick by trading All-Pro linebacker Pat Swilling to Detroit. Willie Roaf would play nine seasons with the Saints -- seven Pro Bowl appearences -- and be named to the 1990s All-Decade Team.
Other picks of note were kick returner Tyrone Hughes, fullback Lorenzo Neal, runningback Dereck Brown and tight end Irv Smith.
Wade Wilson was also added as an unrestricted free agent and started off the season red hot as the Saints started off by winning the first 5 games of the season. In the 37-6 blowout of Rams, a new offensive record was posted as the Saints racked up 557 yards of total offense.
Then following the Bye-week, Mr. Wilson abruptly cooled as did the team as a whole. The Saints took a nose dive against the Steelers in week 7 as they where pummeled 14-37. The Saints never regained their composure and lost 8 of their last 11 and for the first time in four seasons, missed the NFL playoffs.
On a better note, the Saints sent 3 to the NFL Pro Bowl. Rookie Tyrone Hughes was named after having 3 returns for scores. Renaldo Turnball (13 sacks) and Rickey Jackson (11 1/2 sacks) also made it.
Personally, I feel this season was the proverbial "beginning of the end" for the Mora Dynasty.
