New Orleans Saints First Round Draft Choices: Wayne Martin (1989)

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 1988.

Today: 1989

The 1989 draft was the 23rd draft in the history of the Saints.

The pick: Wayne Martin, a defensive lineman from Arkansas.

A native of Forrest City, Arkansas, Martin, who was the 19th-overall pick of the 1989 NFL Draft, was a reserve in his rookie season, totaling 18 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Martin became a full-time starter at left defensive end over the next five seasons, including 1992, when he collected a career-high 15.5 sacks, and 1994, when he was named to the Pro Bowl.

After making the move to defensive tackle in 1995, Martin had three-consecutive seasons where he compiled double-digit sacks, giving him five double-digit sacks seasons (1992 & 1994-1997) over a six-year period.

Martin retired following the 1999 campaign.

In 11 NFL seasons, all with the Saints, Martin appeared in 171 games, including 155 as a starter, compiling 531 tackles, 82.5 sacks, and 13 fumble recoveries.

His sack total ranks Martin second on the all-time franchise list, behind former teammate Rickey Jackson.

Martin is a member of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.

The Saints made two other solid picks in 1989, taking North Carolina Central defensive back Robert Massey in the second round and Northwestern St. receiver Floyd Turner in the sixth round.