Anzalone wasn't expecting call from Saints
Saints LB Alex Anzalone discusses getting the call from Sean Payton on Draft night, the position at which he feels most comfortable and his mentality when it comes to injuries.




















Saints LB Alex Anzalone discusses getting the call from Sean Payton on Draft night, the position at which he feels most comfortable and his mentality when it comes to injuries.
Some were relieved to see O.J. Howard land somewhere besides New Orleans, but one coordinator loves the Alvin Kamara pick.
Boston College's DE Harold Landry has a knack for making plays behind the line of scrimmage, which could warrant a top-10 pick next season.
Adrian Peterson joked his return trip to U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 11 will be "revenge," then said he's looking forward to showing his former Vikings teammates what he can do against them.
Adrian Peterson, speaking to the New Orleans media for the first time on a conference call, says he will teach Mark Ingram "all I can teach him."
Adrian Peterson said he could have waited until after the draft to sign somewhere – and actually had two calls from other teams who might be interested in the week before the draft. But he said his comfort level was so high in New Orleans and he felt the "love and energy" in the building that he didn't need to wait any longer. He's also fired up to play with Drew Brees and a top-ranked offense. "Envisioning myself in the backfield with Drew Brees, it was like 'Wow, what will the opposing team do?'" Peterson said.
New Saints RB Adrian Peterson said, "I knew what I was getting myself into" by joining a backfield that traditionally spreads the ball around to several running backs. "And I'm comfortable with that, that's why I signed," he said. Peterson said he has followed Mark Ingram's career since Alabama and he's eager to work with him: "I'm gonna put my arm around that young guy, teach him all I can teach him, and we're gonna do this thing together."
Three might seem like the crowd, but the Saints are excited to see how the Mark Ingram/Adrian Peterson/Alvin Kamara combo will produce.
The Saints released DE D.J. Pettway and CB Jimmy Pruitt with injury designations. Two undrafted rookies from last year making way for this year's UDFAs.
The Saints' undrafted free-agent class is heavy on offense after five of their seven choices in the draft were defensive players.
The Saints announced their list of 12 undrafted rookies who have agreed to deals, including five offensive linemen and a long snapper (who might have as good a chance as anyone to make the team in an open competition there). Here's the list: WRs Travin Dural, LSU and Ahmad Fulwood, Florida. FB John Robinson-Woodgett, UMass. Gs Collin Buchanan, Miami (Ohio); Cameron Lee, Illinois State and Clint Van Horn, Marshall. C Cameron Tom, Southern Miss. OL Andrew Lauderdale, New Hampshire. DT Devaroe Lawrence, Auburn. LB Sae Tautu, BYU. CB Arthur Maulet, Memphis. LS Chase Dominguez, Utah.
The draft was all about defense for New Orleans, which was miserable in that department in 2016. Now, it's time to put it all together.
ESPN Insider's NFL draft experts recap the 2017 draft for the New Orleans Saints, including Mel Kiper's draft grades, Todd McShay's favorite pick and more.
Mike Triplett breaks down the moves he liked and the moves that might not work out for the Panthers.
Saints superfan Jarrius Robertson, 15, received a "new, working liver" in a transplant surgery Sunday, his father Jordy tweeted.
Marshon Lattimore was the prize of the Saints' draft, but after second-rounder Marcus Williams, it's unclear who'll have immediate impact on defense.
Mike Triplett breaks down the New Orleans Saints' 2017 draft class.
It will be years before we can accurately assess the Saints' 2017 rookie class, but it's time to weigh in on how well the team used its draft resources.
The Saints got the guy they wanted in cornerback Marshon Lattimore, but what would have happened if Lattimore was selected beforehand?
One of the most popular additions in the Saints' unstaffed free agent class should be WR Travin Dural from just up the road at LSU. Duran has agreed to a deal per his agent, Damarius Bilbo. The 6-1, 202-pounder had 100 receptions for 1,718 yards and 13 touchdowns during an injury-riddled career, though he spent three years as a starter.
Sean Payton said there is ‘obviously' room for all of the Saints' RBs (Mark Ingram, Adrian Peterson and third-round pick Alvin Kamara). He said after signing Peterson and "with the year Mark just had," the Saints wouldn't have drafted "just the pure running back." But the Saints really like Kamara as the pass-catching "joker" back, which is heavily featured in their offense. Payton shared the story of his workout with Kamara, who wasn't planning to run routes at first. But he ran back to get his cleats and Payton told him it was a great decision because he looked great running about 11 routes or so.
Sean Payton confirmed that the Saints would have taken CB Marshon Lattimore ahead of QB Patrick Mahomes II – but they would have taken Mahomes at No. 11 if Lattimore was gone. Payton said that's probably the first time they considered a QB that high in New Orleans – but the grade would have been just as high regardless of Drew Brees' age. Payton said what stood out most with Mahomes was his ability to climb, escape, throw from all positions. "We play an imperfect game where there's protection issues," Payton said.
Here is the full list of Saints' 2017 draft picks (assuming they don't trade back into Round 7). They finished with the normal allotment of seven picks -- just in a non-traditional order: Round 1. Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State; 1. Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin; 2. Marcus Williams, S, Utah; 3. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee; 3. Alex Anzalone, LB, Florida; 3. Trey Hendrickson, DE, Florida Atlantic; 6. Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE, Miami (Fla.)
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(11) | Marshon Lattimore | CB | Ohio State |
| 1(32) | Ryan Ramczyk | OT | Wisconsin |
| 2(10) | Marcus Williams | S | Utah |
| 3(3) | Alvin Kamara | RB | Tennessee |
| 3(12) | Alex Anzalone | ILB | Florida |
| 3(39) | Trey Hendrickson | DE | Florida Atlantic |
| 6(12) | Al-Quadin Muhammad | DE | Miami (FL) |
| TEAM | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 540 | 406 |
| Tampa Bay | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 354 | 369 |
| New Orleans | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 469 | 454 |
| Carolina | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 369 | 402 |
| NAME | POS | TYPE | PREV. TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Abdul-Quddus | S | UFA | DET |
| S. Acho | LB | UFA | CHI |
| J. Adams | OT | UFA | HOU |
| J. Addae | S | RFA | SD |
| D. Aiken | LS | UFA | NYG |
