The New Orleans Saints traded up in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft to select center Erik McCoy from Texas A&M. The three-year starter anchored the middle of the Aggies' offensive line as a team captain and paved the way for the SEC's leading rusher. In 2019 with the Saints, McCoy was the first rookie in franchise history to start at center in Week 1. Replacing the retired Max Unger, McCoy opened all 16 regular season contests and was named a PFWA All-Rookie. McCoy has opened every regular season and postseason contest at center he's appeared in for New Orleans the past five seasons and was selected to his first Pro Bowl for the 2023-24 season.
The Saints' next selection in the 2019 NFL draft came during Round 4. With the 105th selection, the Saints took Florida standout C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Gardner-Johnson appeared in 43 games, recording 160 tackles (121 solo), three sacks, five interceptions, 28 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He was named to the PWFA All-Rookie Team. Gardner-Johnson is now on the Philadelphia Eagles roster.
Selected in the sixth round out of Rutgers, Saquan Hampton contributed on defense and special teams in five contests in 2019, posting one stop for loss.
The Saints selected tight end Alize Mack (231) and linebacker Kaden Elliss (244) with their remaining selections. Elliss is now on the Atlanta Falcons roster.
Saints 2019 draft summary:
After trading away their first round pick back in 2018 to select Marcus Davenport, the Black and Gold selected McCoy with the 48th pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. The 93rd pick was traded to the Jets in exchange for Teddy Bridgewater and the right to select Hampton. The Saints' next selection came during the fourth round (105th overall) when they drafted Gardner-Johnson. New Orleans' final two picks came in the seventh round. Mack was drafted with the 231st pick and Elliss was selected with the 244th pick.
Check out photos from Nashville as the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft gets underway.
A general view of fans during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
A detail view of a Seattle Seahawks fan's hair is seen during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson signs autographs on the red carpet during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
A general, overall view of the stage during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray arrives on the red carpet during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
LSU linebacker Devin White arrives on the red carpet during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
LSU linebacker Devin White arrives on the red carpet during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Washington State offensive tackle Andre Dillard arrives on the red carpet during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron arrives on the red carpet during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams arrives on the red carpet during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
An overall, general view of Broadway is seen during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
A detail view of Michigan linebacker Devin Bush's football during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
LSU cornerback Greedy Williams poses for a portrait on the red carpet during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
A detail view of LSU cornerback Greedy Williams's football during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
LSU linebacker Devin White poses for a portrait during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
A detail view of LSU linebacker Devin White's football during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson arrives on the red carpet during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Draft prospects pose on stage during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Stanford head coach David Shaw, NFL Network's Kurt Warner and NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray on stage after being selected by the Arizona Cardinals during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the New York Jets selected Williams in the first round during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams poses for a selfie with fans after the New York Jets selected Williams in the first round during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
A general, overall view of the player green room during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Jaguar fans during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
Draft prospects pose on stage during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Logan Bowles/NFL)
2019 New Orleans Saints draft picks:
| Pick # | Position | Player | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | C | Erik McCoy (choice from Miami) | Texas A&M |
| 105 | S | C.J. Gardner-Johnson (choice from New York Jets) | Florida |
| 177 | S | Saquan Hampton | Rutgers |
| 231 | TE | Alize Mack (choice from Cleveland) | Notre Dame |
| 244 | LB | Kaden Elliss | Idaho |
2019 New Orleans Saints draft pick trades:
| Pick # | Trade Details |
|---|---|
| 30 | Traded to Green Bay along with No. 27 and No. 147 in the 2018 NFL Draft for the right to select Marcus Davenport with the 14th overall pick in 2018 |
| 93 | Traded to the New York Jets in exchange for Teddy Bridgewater and the right to draft Saquan Hampton |
