2017 NFL Draft: New Orleans Saints final grade

By John Buhler | Apr 30, 2017

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State) reacts with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 11 overall pick to the New Orleans Saints in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Alvin Kamara speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Second Round

Marcus Williams

Safety, Utah Utes

We saw a little bit of a safety run in the middle of the second round. New Orleans was right in the mix of that nonsense and overdrafted Utah Utes safety Marcus Williams. Williams could be a good pro, but he was probably coached up like so many Utes have been over the years under head coach Kyle Whittingham. That being said, New Orleans needs all the help it can get in the secondary. At least the Saints are trying.

Third Round

Alvin Kamara

Running Back, Tennessee Volunteers

This one makes no sense at all. If the Saints already have an elite multipurpose back in Mark Ingram Jr. and signed an aging up-the-middle bruiser in Adrian Peterson, then why on Earth did the Saints trade up to draft Tennessee Volunteers running back Alvin Kamara near the top of the third round? Kamara is a good player, but can’t handle a bell-cow workload. New Orleans is a terrible landing spot for him.

Alex Anzalone

Linebacker, Florida Gators

This was another head-scratcher of a pick made by the Saints. Since the arch rival Atlanta Falcons took LSU Tigers linebacker Duke Riley at No. 75, New Orleans panicked and massively overdrafted Florida Gators middle linebacker Alex Anzalone. He is a solid player when he’s healthy, but he never is. How did he come off the board in day two?

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Trey Hendrickson

Outside Linebacker, Florida Atlantic Owls

After a series of botch jobs in day two, the Saints saved their best day two pick for last. They used the No. 103 pick on Florida Atlantic Owls outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson. This kid has a high motor and could play in a tough of spots up front for the Saints defense. Hendrickson is easily the best value pick the Saints made. Through hard work, he could be a starter in the Saints defense for years, possibly becoming a Pro Bowler.

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