The New Orleans Saints used their second of two first-round picks to select former Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony.

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“Stephone Anthony wasn’t the top rated inside linebacker on my board, but he was apparently that on Mickey Loomis’ board.  He’s an active linebacker who should help the defense, but with Randy Gregory still on the board the pick didn’t make a ton of sense.”- Charlie Bernstein

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“It was a bit of a rough night for the Saints as they selected two players I wouldn’t have touched at their respective slots. I did not expect it to take until pick No. 31 for an inside linebacker to come off the board. That’s rare. And when the first finally did, I never expected it to be Stephone Anthony. I get the need for the Saints, but I can’t understand the player fit. It’s one thing to pass on Eric Kendricks for a stronger, more physical ILB, but hello, does Benardrick McKinney ring any bells? Anthony might be slightly more athletic, but McKinney is pretty close and he’s the bigger, more powerful player. And I’m just not sure how long Anthony’s workout speed projects long term at his size.” – Devon Jeffreys

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“Stephone Anthony will step in and play for the New Orleans Saints right away, and will be a part of as drastic a rebuild as we’ve seen in New Orleans in a long time. Maybe it’s because this pick was part of the Jimmy Graham, but this pick seems underwhelming. Anthony is a good football player, but I prefer Miami’s Denzell Perriman, UCLA’s Eric Kendricks and Mississippi State’s Benardrick McKinney. Clearly the Saints staff saw something in Anthony that many analysts did not.” – Pat Donovan

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“I straight-up hate this pick. I think Eric Kendricks and Benardrick McKinney are far superior talents at this position, and the team is still lacking in the secondary. A pass rusher might have been a good add, too. My least-favorite pick in the first round.” – Alex Hickey

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