DALLAS — A common, lingering question at the top of the NFL Draft is what were the New Orleans Saints doing? What were they thinking?

The Saints moved up 13 spots in the first round in a trade with the Green Bay Packers to select Texas-San Antonio defensive end Marcus Davenport at No. 14. The cost included their 2019 first-round draft pick.

Too much for a developing player from a small school, critics offered. A reach, others scolded.

But the Saints’ NFL peers know better. They are noticing the Saints’ recent method of draft business. The Saints in last year’s draft found instant defensive (cornerback Marshon Lattimore) and offensive (running back Alvin Kamara) playmakers along with other distinguishing rookie contributors.

I believe Davenport is a strong bet to continue the trend.

What was New Orleans thinking?

The key is they were thinking.

The Saints are drafting now with player learning methods at the forefront. Head coach Sean Payton believes players’ learning methods cross section in four ways — never struggles in education and in football learning; never struggles in education but struggles in football learning; struggles in education but never in football; struggles in both. He calls it good-good, good-bad, bad-good and bad-bad. He is fascinated in gauging the mental side of young players.

Payton recently told me this about the Saints’ newfound draft philosophy:

“We are working in the area of processing to help us as we try to become better in this area of identifying. We are measuring mental traits that have developed and finalized in that way since the player was probably 13 or 14 years old. You are testing focus, retention, re-focusing. You are testing attention. I’m excited about this area and we are exploring it fully. It may become a standard for learning about all rookie players.”

Payton said the Saints choose from a variety of 16 different tests, for example, one on a computer screen that shows 12 dots, three red and moving and players attempt to recall their original locations. Another shows letters on a computer screen that pop up in red and blue and rotate, slowly then faster. How does the player retain those colors and that movement?

The talent, the skill of the potential draftee is of course critical.

But how does he learn? Is he mentally wired, in a football sense, to succeed?

Those are the specific type of questions the Saints are asking. Those are the type of players they are drafting.

So, it was little surprise that the Saints took particular interest in Davenport, when Davenport — who is a hulking 6’6, 264 pounds of power, speed and promise — said this immediately after he was drafted:

”I was surprised when we first met at the Senior Bowl that they had me learn some of their stuff on defense. And then when I saw them again later in the draft process, they asked me about it and I remembered most of it.”

He spoke their language.

He nailed one of their biggest, developing draft metrics.

He became their target. An edge rusher, a primary need the Saints identified after last season. An effort player. A fortunate product of availability when NFL teams’ franchise quarterback needs early in the draft pushed him downward toward the middle of the first round. An explosive player. An aggressive player.

And here is the real key — a guy who fits right in with what the Saints are building in terms of talent mixed with mental temperament and learning makeup.

Every NFL team uses some facet of this approach.

But the Saints are exhibiting a knack for it that is prominent.

I expect Davenport to roll right in and create havoc on the Saints’ defense. I expect him to continue a trend of rookie impact players for the Saints. He is big, he is fast, and he displays special football gifts.

And this will help push him over the top — he pays attention. He’s a fast football learner. He’s hungry.

“They showed a lot of faith in me,” Davenport said. “I’m going to show them it was worth it.”

The Edmunds brothers — Tremaine and Terrell — were a historic, first-round hurricane. They are the first brothers selected in a first round. Linebacker Tremaine was No. 16 to Buffalo. safety Terrell was No. 28 to Pittsburgh.

Tremaine is going to a place where his head coach, Sean McDermott, will know exactly what to do with him. McDermott wants fast defense and Tremaine will make that Bills defense instantly faster. He was the most flexible, fastest linebacker in the draft and his East-West motor makes him a prize possibility at middle linebacker. Wherever he lines up, his ability to drop in pass coverage as well as sprint to the quarterback gives him rare versatility. Tremaine is going to be one of those guys that just shows up in NFL games.

Terrell said that, along with his parents, he had dinner with Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin during the draft process. He said his parents and Tomlin clicked.

Tomlin clicked with the parents.

Tomlin clicked with the player.

Pittsburgh took Terrell higher than he was projected. But their conviction on him never wavered. They see him as a player who can play multiple positions in the secondary and overall in the defense. I see that, too.

They see a guy who won’t get caught with his pants down. Even though on draft night he already did.

Terrell explained that he was in the bathroom when the Steelers called to select him.

“I didn’t even get the chance to zip up my pants and put on my belt when I ran out there to tell my parents what was happening,” Terrell said. “I was filled with joy.”

If you could hear the way he said it, the way he communicates with such ease and style, you can see why Pittsburgh made sure he was a Steeler.

I see a dynamic career ahead for this player.

NFL teams try not to pay much attention to all of the chatter and noise that rages on the outside. But they can’t help but hear it, notice it, when it comes from their peers.

And an example recently was at the annual NFL owner meetings in March in Orlando. More than once, you heard coaches and executives prefacing their remarks by saying “… like the Browns … who are just trying to win one game.”

Yes, that 0-16 Browns season a year ago makes every other team in the league feel better. At least we’re not the Browns, the feeling goes. You don’t think the Browns absorb that? Get that?

So, I believe that the selection of quarterback Baker Mayfield at No. 1 is in large part about the Browns selecting the quarterback who had the best makeup to shake it up. To dig this franchise out of its dungeon. You need a guy who can throw it, a guy who can lead, but most important for the Browns quarterback, a spark of immense energy was required. Someone built to embrace, not run from, the Browns soulful needs.

“It makes perfect sense to me, him there,” an NFL head coach told me. “I mean, why not? They’re trying to win one game over there (THERE “THEY” GO AGAIN). They need a lightening rod as much as a quarterback. You’re trying to break a deep-rooted, bad culture. With that quarterback, it is not going to be a dull situation.”