Saints Grab Texas Linebacker With Their Final Fifth-Round Pick

Assuming a trade doesn't materialize, the Saints used their final fifth-round pick on Day 3 to take Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford at 170th overall.

QUICK THOUGHTS: Ford is more of an inside linebacker upon first glance and was a real tackle machine for the Longhorns last season. He finished with 101 tackles, which included 10.5 for loss. He was a Dick Butkus Award semifinalist, and had a sack, two interceptions, two pass breakups and forced a fumble. He'll give you strong run support and can also cover. He figures to be someone who will earn his bread and butter on special teams at first, but with Michael Hodges coaching him, that could unlock a lot for the Texas linebacker.

KEY NEEDS: WR, DT, OL, TE, DB

Two-year starting linebacker with good size and athleticism but average speed and below-average instincts. Ford’s tackle count is almost evenly split between solo and assisted, which is a little unusual for an inside linebacker with multiple opportunities to play the role of sheriff. He lacks ideal anticipation to mirror the pathway of running backs and tends to be too impacted by encounters with blockers. He pursues the ball with good pace and has become a steady tackler in the open field. Ford has great hands and third-down value but might lack the consistency needed to stick on a roster long term.