Sean Payton details Saints' remaining needs heading into 2018 NFL draft

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The New Orleans Saints made some free-agent acquisitions this offseason to lessen their need to fill certain positions in this week's NFL draft, but coach Sean Payton still sees some areas he wants the team to address.

Speaking after participating in the Zurich Classic's Celebrity Shootout at TPC Louisiana in Avondale on Tuesday (April 24), Payton said the Saints still need to add a defensive end, offensive lineman, tight end and linebacker.

The Saints have made moves at all of those positions this offseason, but long-term needs remain at those spots. Still, because of the additions, the Saints won't be tempted to reach to fill the holes.

"There's a handful of positions that we'll look to address and yet we'll be smart about how they fall," Payton said.

The exact spots Payton listed as needs were a "pressure player." The first time he mentioned this, he said defensive end in the same breath, but anyone who can pressure the quarterback would help the defense. At defensive end, the Saints re-signed Alex Okafor and George Johnson and younger players Hau'oli Kikaha, Trey Hendrickson and Al Quadin Muhammad will battle for playing time, too.

Payton also said sixth offensive lineman without specifying the position. The Saints this offseason lost Senio Kelemete, a versatile backup who played more than 60 percent of snaps each of the past two years. They added Jermon Bushrod who has position flexibility, but that's just a one-year deal.

Because Andrus Peat can play guard or tackle, the Saints can pick the best tackle or interior lineman they see available, but Payton noted that this draft is deeper with interior options.

"Hopefully we can find the right player," he said.

At tight end, the Saints definitely have a long-term need. Benjamin Watson came back, but he's 37 and on a one-year deal. Josh Hill and Michael Hoomanawanui are entering the final year of their deals, and Coby Fleener has to prove himself to stay on the team beyond this year.

Meanwhile, the Saints have added several linebackers the past few years, including Demario Davis this year, but there are long-term questions about most of them. Craig Robertson, Manti Te'o and Nathan Stupar are all entering the last year of their deal. A.J. Klein's contract, the way it was written, really has just two more years, and there are lingering shoulder concerns with 2017 draft pick Alex Anzalone.

Over the next couple days before the draft, Payton said the team scouts will continue to tinker with the board, potentially moving some players around with similar grades. And although these are the top needs, the Saints will focus on finding players that will fit the team long term.

"The key is just having the right vision for the player," he said. "The vision to make the team, the vision on special teams, how do you see the player fitting on offense or defense, and what do you see happening in Year 1. There's no guarantees that that happens, but we spend a lot of time talking about what the player can do, not what he can't do. So, what do we think the player can do to help us win and kind of go from there."