New Orleans Saints First Round Draft Choices: Alex Molden (1996)

The first round of the 2016 NFL Draft will be held on Thursday, April 28, in Chicago, Illinois.

Between now and then, we’ll be looking back at all of the drafts of the New Orleans Saints, from 1967-2015.

Yesterday, we looked back at 1995.

Today: 1996

The 1996 draft was the 30th draft in the history of the Saints.

The pick: Alex Molden, a cornerback from Oregon.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Molden, who was the 11th-overall pick of the 1996 NFL Draft, played five years for the Saints, from 1996-2000.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Molden played in all 14 games as a rookie, starting 2, before becoming the full-time starter in 1997.

In his two seasons as a starter, in 1997 and 1998, Molden compiled 111 tackles and 2 interceptions.

A reserve in his final two seasons with the organization, in 1999 and 200, Molden accumulated 37 tackles and 4 interceptions.

Molden left the Saints following the 2000 season, signing with the San Diego Chargers, where he played for two seasons, before signing with the Detroit Lions, for whom he played one season, prior to retiring.

In 5 seasons with the Saints, Molden played in 74 games, including 38 as a starter, compiling 165 total tackles and 8 interceptions.

In 8 total NFL seasons, Molden appeared in 98 games, including 57 as a starter, accumulating 250 total tackles and 12 interceptions.

The Saints made three other draft choices of note in 1996, California defensive back Je'Rod Cherry in the second round, Colorado St. defensive end Brady Smith in the third round, and Eastern Washington offensive lineman Tom Ackerman in the fifth round.