Saints agree to terms with Mehlhaff, Arrington

(AP) – The New Orleans Saints agreed to contract terms on Friday with kicker Taylor Mehlhaff and wide receiver Adrian Arrington, leaving only three 2008 draft picks still unsigned as training camp approaches.

Mehlhaff, who was picked in the sixth round, and Arrington, picked in the seventh, both agreed to three-year deals, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said.

Earlier, the Saints signed their fifth-round pick, defensive tackle DeMario Pressley. Negotiations continue with the Saints’ top pick, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis; second-round choice, cornerback Tracy Porter; and offensive tackle Carl Nicks, the first of their two fifth-round picks.

The Saints did not have selections in the third or fourth rounds.

Mehlhaff, a North Dakota native and former Wisconsin Badger who kicks with his left foot, became the first kicker drafted by the Saints since Morten Andersen in 1982 when selected with the 178th overall pick. He was named All-Big Ten Conference as a senior.

Mehlhaff made 50 field goals in 65 attempts in his Wisconsin career, including 21-of-25 as senior. He also converted 145 of 148 point-after tries while forcing touchbacks on 43 percent of his kickoffs.

Arrington was selected by the Saints with the 237th overall selection, a choice acquired after a trade with the Green Bay Packers for a 2009 sixth-round pick. The 6-3, 192-pound receiver played 35 games for Michigan. He had 109 receptions for 1,438 yards and 16 touchdowns and once threw a touchdown pass on a reverse. He entered the draft with one year of college eligibility remaining.

“After watching these players progress through minicamps and the offseason program, we’re eager to see them compete in training camp and on into game action,” Loomis said. “Both of these young men are players that could make an impact on our ballclub.”