COCOA, Fla.---

Some things are worth the wait.  For former Florida Gators defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson getting drafted took longer than expected.  But when he finally got the call from New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis he realized his NFL dream had come true.

“I made it, but I didn’t make it,” Gardner-Johnson says.  “Now I’m feeling to make every team that passed on me feel it.”

The former Cocoa High School star had already gone through two days of waiting.  He was projected to go anywhere between the first and the third rounds.  His phone was by his side all weekend, so were his friends and family.  Everyone waiting for it to ring.

“Lot of emotion because it’s just like what’s happening?” Chauncey says.  “We don’t know until they tell you everybody say different things people think different things and I just got on my knees and started praying like if everything fails just give me one shot.”

Chauncey watched as his former high school teammates got drafted.  Jawaan Taylor went to Jacksonville at pick 35.  Jamel Dean went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at pick 94.  Just twelve minutes into round 4 on Saturday Chauncey got the call.  New Orleans took him with the 105th overall pick.  A choice foreshadowed by a text message late the night before.

“I got a text message at exactly 1:01am,” Gardner-Johnson reads off his phone.  “Chauncey this is coach AG with the Saints I’m hoping we pull the trigger and go get you tomorrow.”

Saints Secondary coach Aaron Glenn’s message came true when the Saints traded up to get Gardner-Johnson at 105.  The first defensive player they took in the draft.  Gardner-Johnson happy to be a part of a winning franchise and can’t wait to get to work.

“I’m ready to go in there and just learn I’m going to a scheme where it’s already just set,” Gardner-Johnson says.  “I’m going to a team that’s already got their mentality.  Now I’m feeling to just pin my ears back just go out there and ball.”