The Saints entered the 2017 draft with a visible need at cornerback and addressed that with their first selection. They signed that addition and five others on Friday.
New Orleans inked cornerback Marshon Lattimore to his four-year rookie deal, GM Mickey Loomis announced. The Saints also signed running back Alvin Kamara, safety Marcus Williams, linebacker Alex Anzalone, defensive end Trey Hendrickson and defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, leaving first-round selection (32nd overall) Ryan Ramczyk as the lone pick yet to be signed.
Lattimore, a product of Ohio State, was the higher-rated of the two Buckeyes corners who were selected in the 2017 draft, with Gareon Conley going 24th to Oakland. Lattimore recorded four interceptions, 16 passes defensed and 46 tackles in two seasons at Ohio State, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors. He's slated to immediately start at cornerback opposite Delvin Breaux and P.J. Williams.
Kamara is perhaps the most intriguing selection of the Saints' 2017 class. The speedy back out of Tennessee joins a backfield that was owned by Mark Ingram (especially after the departure of Tim Hightower), but is suddenly crowded in the best way possible with the addition of Kamara and Adrian Peterson. Kamara looks to be the new Darren Sproles, with skills to succeed as a pass-catcher out of the backfield as well as a quick-burst option in the running game, while Peterson is the between-the-tackles hammer and Ingram is a mix of both. There are plenty of backs to feed, and it's a good problem to have in New Orleans.
