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New Orleans Saints were glad to select Wisconsin offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk with the final pick in the first round of the 2017 draft Thursday, but another prospect expected to be the selection.
The only problem is that player came off the board one pick before the Saints were on the clock at No. 32.
Reuben Foster, a linebacker from Alabama, had significant contact with New Orleans during the pre-draft process, and Saints coach Sean Payton said Foster was among the players discussed in the team's draft room leading up to the No. 32 pick, along with Ramczyk and UCLA defensive end Takk McKinley, who went No. 26 to the Atlanta Falcons.
But, before the Saints were on the clock, the San Francisco 49ers traded up from No. 34 to No. 31 and picked Foster. And when 49ers general manager John Lynch called Foster, the prospect was caught off guard.
"When I was talking to him, he said, 'Coach, New Orleans is taking me,'"
Lynch told reporters. "I said no, we're taking you."
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