Saints annnounce signing of 2019 draft class

New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced on Friday morning that the franchise has signed their 2019 draft class, as all five draft picks have agreed to four-year contracts.

Texas A&M center Erik McCoy was the Saint’s second round draft choice (48th overall). The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Lufkin, Tex. native started all 39 games he appeared in during his three seasons (37 starts at center, two at guard). 

Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was the Saints’ fourth round draft choice (105th overall). The 6-foot-0, 208-pound Cocoa, Fla. native started 12 games, and posted 71 tackles, four interceptions (two returned for a touchdown), two passes defensed, nine tackles-for-loss and three sacks.

Rutgers defensive back Saquan Hampton was the Saints’ sixth round draft choice (177th overall), becoming the first Scarlet Knights player ever selected by the Black and Gold. The 6-foot-1, 209-pound Hamilton, N.J. native was a four-year letterman (2015-18) and three-year starter for the Scarlet Knights.

Notre Dame tight end Alizé Mack was the first of New Orleans’ two seventh-round picks (231st overall) and a three-year starter for the Fighting Irish, where he played in 35 career games with 23 starts. 

Idaho linebacker Kaden Elliss, 6-3, 240, was the second of New Orleans’ two seventh-round picks (244th overall) appeared in 47 games, and was a first team All-Big Sky selection in 2018.