Receiver Marques Colston was the steal of the draft in 2006, a seventh-round pick who has become the team’s go-to receiver.

His three-year rookie deal expires after the 2008 season, at which time he’ll become a restricted free agent. 

Per the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the team has had preliminary discussions with Colston’s agent regarding an extension.  But no progress toward a new deal has been made.

A holdout by Colston is unlikely, but he clearly deserves a raise.  When and if he’ll get one remains to be seen.

They’d better move soon, or another team might be willing to give up a first-round pick and a third-round pick in order to pilfer him from the Saints next March.  Given that drafting a wideout in round one is even more of a crapshoot than taking a quarterback, a proven commodity is well worth a one and a three.