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2014: Second-team All-SEC. Started 12 games. 2013: Started all 13 games. 2012: Started all 14 games. 2011: Played in 11 games with one start.

STRENGTHS: Natural corner who has played and can play all over field. Played in the box in dime package and used as deep safety on a few snaps. Good length pressing and crowding receivers to the sideline. At his best as bump-and-run corner playing inside leverage. Thin but physical in run support. Covered big receivers and tight ends from the slot. Blitzes like a heat-seeking missile.

New Orleans Saints select DB Damian Swann in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft


ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Natural corner who has played and can play all over field. Played in the box in dime package and used as deep safety on a few snaps. Good length pressing and crowding receivers to the sideline. At his best as bump-and-run corner playing inside leverage. Thin but physical in run support. Covered big receivers and tight ends from the slot. Blitzes like a heat-seeking missile.

WEAKNESSES Gives away a tremendous cushion in thirds coverage. Has to see it to break on it. Instincts lacking in zone coverage and takes too long to close out receivers. Feet uncooperative at times. Has issues staying wired to receivers making inside releases. Plays at one speed and lacks long speed to recover. Not in position to make interceptions. Had just five interceptions in three years as a starter.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 5

NFL COMPARISON Chris Lewis-Harris

BOTTOM LINE Gangly cornerback with spindly legs but a willingness to play physically and with great energy and effort. Swann doesn't play tightly enough in coverage or make enough plays on the ball to be a starting cornerback and doesn't have the size to transition to safety full time, but he's versatile and highly competitive and has a legitimate shot to make a team.

Damian Swann Draft Profile




My take: The Saints are clearly intent on improving their cornerback depth, and I don't blame them since I considered it their biggest weakness last season (among several other worthy candidates). The Saints now have nine cornerbacks on the roster after adding Brandon Browner, Kyle Wilson and Delvin Breaux in free agency and drafting P.J. Williams in the third round. They traded up to get Swann, sending their sixth-round picks in both 2015 and 2016 to the Washington Redskins to move up 20 spots. It's hard to project Swann playing a big role right away in such a crowded secondary. But he could fight for a role as a dime back while contributing on special teams and being developed for the future.

Finding the fit: Swann bounced around in different roles as a three-year starter at Georgia, sometimes playing in the slot, sometimes bump-and-run and sometimes even playing as a deep safety. ESPN analyst Todd McShay said he thinks the 6-foot, 189-pounder was at his best as a senior when the Bulldogs moved him back away from the line of scrimmage. But the Saints will have time to decide what suits the long and lean defensive back best in their versatile defense. Swann had eight career interceptions -- four of them coming in 2012 and four coming in 2014. He also had four forced fumbles as a senior.

2015 NFL draft total breakdown: Saints draft CB Damian Swann in fifth - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN


Damian Swann talks about being drafted by the Saints

What kind of expectations did you have going into draft weekend? And what was it like getting the phone call that you’d been picked?

“I was just waiting. I’ve been to a lot of different places and I met with a lot of different people. I didn’t know where I was going to end up. I’m just happy to be here, and I’m excited about the moment. I’m ready to get to work.”

Did you visit the Saints in New Orleans?

“I did. It was about two to three weeks ago.”

What did you talk about and what did they say? How did they envision using you?

“They pretty much liked my versatility. I can play a lot of different spots and am able to pick up on the system. I think I’m a pretty good fit for what they like to do. I’ve been around the system for a while. The visit went well. I got to meet everybody, I got to talk ball, I got to show them a lot of things I already knew, and we just went from there.”

Read more: Damian Swann talks about being drafted by the Saints

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