NEW ORLEANS- The New Orleans Saints draft Michigan interior lineman Cesar Ruiz with the number 24 pick of the 2020 NFL draft.

In the virtual NFL draft Thursday night, the Saints chose a 6'3, 307-pound lineman with a 33-inch vertical jump lineman for their first draft pick.

Ruiz went from the No. 1 center in his high school recruiting class to one of the top centers in the country at Michigan. Now, he is the first center off the board on draft day.

This year's draft much different than in 2019 when the Saints did not have a first-round pick. 

The Saints did not have a 2nd round pick after trading it last season to select now starting center Erik McCoy.

In the third round, the Saints traded up to pick number 74 overall to select Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun. 

Message from @zackbizzaun to #Saints fans!#SaintsDraft | @HancockWhitney pic.twitter.com/nhLHnPgIA4

Trending News

• Man shot, killed one-year-old daughter before shooting himself following police chase, deputies say
• Man wanted by deputies for cashing fake checks worth thousands of dollars from U.S. Treasury

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 25, 2020

During his senior season, he finished among the nation's leaders with 19.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He also had 76 total tackles and earned second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors. He also intercepted a pass, broke up two others, and caused two fumbles.

Finally, the Saints traded into the third round to select Dayton tight end Adam Trautman. According to ESPN's Field Yates, the Saints traded picks 130, 169, 203 and 244 for the pick. 

He was a first-team Associated Press FCS All-American and the Pioneer League Offensive Player of the Year after recording 70 receptions for 916 yards (13.1 per) and 14 touchdowns (ranked fifth in the FCS) in 11 starts. 

With the 105th pick in the #NFLDraft, the #Saints select TE Adam Trautman, Dayton! #SaintsDraft | @HancockWhitney pic.twitter.com/2RJqNRj9MQ

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 25, 2020

Saints coach Sean Payton posted a video to Twitter recapping day 2 of the NFL draft.

Watch Live: Sean Payton recaps Day 2 of the #NFLDraft #SaintsDraft | @CoxComm https://t.co/wRwibAKGxv

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 25, 2020

You can watch the draft on WBRZ Channel 2. Check back for more updates.