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The New Orleans Saints added to their defensive backfield with the selection of Wisconsin safety Natrell Jamerson in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

The 5-foot-11, 201-pound Jamerson was the 164th overall selection. He played multiple positions while at Wisconsin, moving from wide receiver to kick returner to cornerback to safety.

He said the Saints told him they view him as a cornerback, but he's willing to play any position.

Jamerson played his final college season at safety, starting all 14 games with 51 total tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions. He returned one interception for a touchdown.



Saints secondary coach Aaron Glenn worked out Jamerson during the pre-draft process and evidently came away impressed.

"He gave me a lot of positive feedback during the whole workout and all the film work," Jamerson said.

The position switch from receiver to cornerback came while Dave Aranda was the defensive coordinator at the school, before he left for LSU. Jamerson said he planned to talk with Aranda about making the switch before Aranda brought it up to him first.

"Of course I said yes," said Jamerson, who played cornerback as a sophomore, some nickel corner as a junior and then moved to safety full time as a senior. "That spot was open."

He added that current defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, a former NFL player, told him he "thought I could make a difference."

Jamerson after college played in the East-West Shrine Game and was named the defensive MVP. He also worked out at the NFL Scouting Combine and posted a 4.4-second time in the 40-yard dash.

His speed appeared evident as a kick returner during his first three college seasons. He returned one kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown as a sophomore in 2015.

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jeanpierre

Well, this is one pick I'm really excited. He can legitimately replace Vonn Bell by the end of the season...

Absolute Ball-Hawk...

SmashMouth

K Major

Let see what he does on special teams (gunner) & go from there.

Welcome to New Orleans Natrell

Rugby Saint II

We really need a good kick returner. If he can earn that spot it would be a relief from watching us run it out to the twenty yard line or fair catches with no return.