The Sports Xchange

METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints finally got the first of their two first-round draft picks on the practice field this week when tackle Andrus Peat graduated from Stanford and joined his new teammates at their training facility.

Peat, the 13th overall pick in the draft, participated in the rookie minicamp in mid-May but had to return to school soon after that to finish out the spring quarter.

Saints coach Sean Payton said after Wednesday’s organized team activity practice session that Peat graduated Monday and then quickly packed up and headed to New Orleans to continue his NFL education.

“He got in (Tuesday),” Payton said. “He’ll be here now.”

While Peat wasn’t allowed to work out or practice with the Saints since the rookie minicamp, the team sent him materials to keep him up to date with the offensive installation. That is essential because the team will wrap up its offseason work with a three-day minicamp June 16-18.

Peat worked exclusively at left tackle with the second-team offensive line Wednesday. Third-year pro Terron Armstead is the incumbent starter at left tackle.