Someone will run the 40-yard dash in 4.2 seconds and be compared to Deion Sanders.

Someone will jump like Michael Jordan and draw comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald.

In turn, the analysts, draftniks and scouting gurus will be giddy with excitement and catapult the guy up their mock draft boards.

It's all part of the annual circus that's become the NFL draft, the most over-hyped, overanalyzed non-sporting event this side of the U.S. presidential election.

Fact is, most NFL teams value the mental evaluations more than the physical ones at the annual weeklong event.

Aside from the exhaustive medical examinations, most coaches don't put much stock into the on-field workouts that will garner most of the breathless coverage on NFL Network this week.

For Saints Coach Sean Payton, the formal one-on-one interviews are the most important aspect of the week. Each team is allowed to have 15-minute personal interviews with 60 players. Other informal interviews also take place, and before the Saints leave town, someone in the organization will have spoken with almost all of the 333 draft prospects in attendance. Every second is precious in the "getting-to-know" process.

"The hardest part to this process is how important Football is to the player, his desire to be successful," Payton said. "That's the non-exact part of what we're doing. That's the part that's hardest to test, that's hardest to evaluate."

The on-field drills are relevant. Just not as important as the work the players do in the interview rooms and hotel suites.

"I want to find out about their leadership," Redskins Coach Jim Zorn said. "So I'm asking questions, trying to dig deeper as to what kind of a teammate they were in their program. . . . I'm looking more at the character issues. You kind of see what they can do on video pretty good. There's an immeasurable there as to how that guy is going to come to your program and fit into your team and your locker room, and you've got to try to make sure about those issues before you pull the trigger."

Payton, General Manager Mickey Loomis and nearly the entire Saints coaching, scouting and medical staff are among the 500 NFL personnel here to evaluate the top college prospects for the April 25-26 draft.

The Saints will be somewhat limited when the draft begins. They have just four selections: a first-rounder (No. 14 overall), two fourths and a seventh.

While this time of year is known for its subterfuge, Payton didn't deny that defense tops the wish list.

"The secondary would be an area that I would hope to come away with some help on the first or second day of the draft," Payton said.

But before the Saints can turn their full attention to the draft, they must tackle Free Agency, which begins Feb. 27.

Because the Saints are tight against the $123 million salary cap and want to re-sign some of their top restricted and unrestricted free agents, they aren't expected to be major players in Free Agency.

By releasing wide receiver David Patten and running back Deuce McAllister, they cleared more than $7 million in cap space, but Payton indicated Thursday they "still have more work to do" as they prepare their roster for Free Agency.

Payton didn't go into specifics, but it appears the Saints are not finished releasing players or restructuring contracts in order to position themselves for the personnel-acquisition phase of the offseason.

Look for the Saints to tender key restricted free agents Jahri Evans, Lance Moore and Zach Strief in the coming days. The Saints do not want to risk losing any of those three, so they likely will tender them at high contract levels to stave off competition for their services.

"In the next couple of weeks, we're going to be busy, A, with our roster; and B, with potential free agents that we think can help us," Payton said.

At the top of that list is Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who is slated to hit the open market. Payton made no bones about the team's desire to re-sign Vilma, who team officials believe can be the captain of a more aggressive unit under new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

"Obviously, we have a strong interest in retaining him," Payton said. "I'm optimistic. He's someone we have an interest in (re-signing), and I think he feels the same way."

The same probably can't be said for safety Josh Bullocks. Payton didn't come out and say it, but reading between the lines, it was clear some defensive players who played key roles in the preponderance of late-game meltdowns last season won't be back.

"There are some players that in the end that (the defensive coordinator change) will affect, as well," Payton said. "It just doesn't get announced right now."

But rest assured it will -- sooner rather than later.