The big beneficiary of the Stallworth trade, it appears, will be rookie Marques Colston.

Rogelio V. Solis / Associated Press

Colston, a rookie from Hofstra, knows if he is to make the team, he has to make a name for himself on a team loaded with better known wide receiver talent from the larger schools.

With good speed and 6-foot-4 height, Colston looks like the prototypical NFL receiver. But in terms of his ability, he was somewhat raw and untested having played in college for Division I-AA Hofstra.

Payton saw what he was looking for once training camp started, however. Colston rarely dropped a pass and at times showed his ability to adjust to high throws and gracefully cut inside defenders and soar in the air, stretching to make two-handed catches over his head.

His touchdown catch from Jamie Martin in Saturday's preseason game against Indianapolis only further reinforced what Payton had predicted: That Colston was going to play this season.

"I like the progress Marques Colston's made a lot," Payton said Monday. "That had a lot to do with why we traded Donte."

Colston was flattered but kept his ego in check.

"It's definitely a great feeling that he would speak highly of me in that way," Colston said. "I've just been out here trying to work hard every day and progress every day. I feel like I've done a good job up to this point, but I've got a long way to go."

Quarterback Drew Brees was more complimentary.

"He's been playing great. He gets better every day," Brees said. "Those are the kind of guys we want on this team -- guys that come in and work their tail off and end up fitting into a role on this team, which he's going to do. He's going to end up getting a lot of opportunities, which he deserves. ... Just look at the guy. He's a big target, physical, catches the ball very well. He knows what to do. He's smart. What can I say? The guy deserves it."

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)