Damian Swann to the New Orleans Saints: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The New Orleans Saints continued to address the cornerback spot in Day 3 of the NFL draft, as they tapped Georgia cover man Damian Swann in Round 5.

The Saints’ secondary was routinely torched by opposing quarterbacks in 2014, and the cornerbacks bore the brunt of the abuse.

General manager Mickey Loomis had already made moves to rectify the situation in free agency with the signings of Brandon Browner, Kyle Wilson and Delvin Breaux. In the third round of the draft, New Orleans further addressed the position by selecting Florida State’s P.J. Williams.

The Saints weren’t done, though, and they brought in yet another corner when they selected Swann with the No. 167 overall pick.

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

According to Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com, the Saints made a deal with the Washington Redskins, giving up their sixth-round picks in 2015 and 2016 in order to move back into the fifth round and take Swann.

The former Bulldog is coming off a fine collegiate career in which he played in numerous big games against top-notch competition. He registered 40 career starts, with 39 of them coming in the last three seasons. His best season at Georgia was his last one, as he snagged four interceptions, defended 12 passes and was named second team All-SEC for 2014.

The 6’0” Swann has good height for a corner, although he could stand to put more weight on his 189-pound frame.

Between the lines, he’s an aggressive corner who can play man, off-man and zone. He doesn’t lack for confidence, and matchups with bigger receivers and tight ends often bring out the best in him.

Swann uses his hands as often as possible, and he excels at jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage. Like the Saints’ third-round pick, Williams, he’s a physical cover man, and his toughness can’t be questioned.

Although he isn’t outstanding in run support, he’s solid, and he’s never one to shy away from contact.

Dave Tulis/Associated Press

On the downside, Swann isn’t what you’d call a ball hawk. He only had five interceptions in three years as a starter, and he often gives up an overly large cushion. He was often caught out of position down the field, and the fact that he doesn’t have elite speed only magnified this problem. 

As for his role with the Saints, Swann looks the part of a nickel corner in Rob Ryan’s defense. He’s an extremely spirited competitor, and he’s a gutsy player with a short memory. He’s also a highly effective blitzer, which is most likely something the Saints noticed in him when they decided to trade up to draft him.

With Browner and Keenan Lewis expected to be the Saints' starting outside corners, Swann will join a long list of corners vying for roster spots. These include Williams, Breaux, Wilson, Brian Dixon, Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Terrence Frederick.

His spunky demeanor on the field should serve him well in such a competition, however, and it probably wouldn’t be a smart move to bet against him earning a spot on the final roster in 2015.