New Orleans Saints select Stephone Anthony No. 31 in 2015 NFL draft

The Saints used the pick they got from the Seahawks in the Jimmy Graham trade to surprise draftniks everywhere, selecting Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony.

Doug Farrar | Apr 30, 2015

New Orleans Saints select Stephone Anthony No. 31 in 2015 NFL draft /

The Saints should be lauded for grabbing Stanford's Andrus Peat with their first of two first round picks in this draft, but the selection of Clemson's Stephone Anthony with the 31st pick is certainly a surprise. The Saints are in desperate need of pass-rush and receiving help, and Anthony isn't really a quarterback terrorizer—he'll pick up the occasional sack, but he's more a downhill thumper, capable of creating busted plays and forced fumbles in the backfield.

Anthony has the height/weight/speed attributes—he ran a 4.56 40-yard dash at the combine at 6'3" and 243 pounds—but you'd be hard-pressed to find a media big board on which he was the highest-ranked inside linebacker. Anthony tends to bite on misdirection and play action, and he's more reliant on speed than pure strength when it comes to beating blockers. Trading Jimmy Graham for what amounts to Max Unger and a decent inside linebacker? Well, that will have a lot of Saints fans scratching their heads.

• 2015 NFL draft grades: Pick-by-pick analysis and scouting reports

Strengths: Quick to diagnose runs between the tackles and explode forward into his gaps, but always stays in control. Sound technique when tackling, using his length to wrap up and get ballcarriers on the ground. Explodes through receivers in zone coverage. Displays good instincts in the short zone. Maybe not quite the classic "sideline-to-sideline" inside 'backer, but can cover ground quickly from inside-out. Tape shows he simply never gives up on a play.—Aaron Nagler

Weaknesses: Loses the leverage game far too often. Struggles downfield in coverage, especially when matched up with speedier running backs. His aggressiveness vs. runs between the tackles works against him against play action, which teams will scheme to take clear advantage of. Will have to be careful of his tendency to blow guys up over the middle when he gets to the next level. He can tend to go high and that will draw 15-yard penalties in today's NFL.—Aaron Nagler

Player comparison: Rolando McClain

Grade: C

GALLERY: SCENES FROM THE NFL DRAFT

2015 NFL Draft in Pictures

The stage prior to the start of the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Don Juan Moore/Characterlines for Sports Illustrated

Jameis Winston takes the call from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who made him the first pick.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans react after their team drafted former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the first overall pick during the NFL draft party in Tampa, Fla.

Jameis Winston posed for SI in his new team's jersey after he was taken No. 1.

Marcus Mariota at his draft party in Honolulu.

Washington defensive lineman Danny Shelton picks up NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he celebrates after being selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 12th pick.

Fans cheer after Kevin White of the West Virginia Mountaineers was picked seventh by the Chicago Bears.

Bears fans cheer Chicago's selection of Kevin White of West Virginia Mountaineers.

Dante Fowler with commissioner Roger Goodell after being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Stanford offensive lineman Andrus Peat, right, talks to Deion Sanders after being selected by the New Orleans Saints as the 13th pick in the first round.

Green Bay Packers fans cheer during the first round of the draft.

A look at some of the NFL team representatives at the draft.

Kentucky linebacker Bud Dupree celebrates after being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 22nd pick in the first round.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans Keith Kunzig and David Miller are excited to have traveled from Florida to be at the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Shane Ray checks out his threads.

Leonard Williams is interviewed outside the draft venue before being taken by the New York Jets.

Jameis Winston waiting for the call.

The scene inside the Jameis Winston draft gathering.

X159534_TK1_174.w.JPG — Kent Nishimura for SI

Marcus Mariotta in Hawaii before the first round began.

img_54cc-3ada.w.JPG — Todd Rosenberg for SI

Two Patriots fans in Chicago.

Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly arriving at the NFL Draft.

img_c019-5024.w.JPG — Todd Rosenberg for SI

Chicago mounted police before the first round commenced.

img_3bf6-3442.w.JPG — Todd Rosenberg for SI

Dante Fowler's shoes on draft night.

Chicago welcomed the NFL Draft with open arms.

The view from outside Roosevelt University Auditorium Theatre.

NFL prospect Trae Waynes of Michigan State talks to pediatric patient Alec Cabacungan while doing a mock interview during the NFL PLAY 60 activities at Shriners Hospital for Children on Thursday, April 30 in Chicago.

Published Apr 30, 2015

DOUG FARRAR

SI.com contributing NFL writer and Seattle resident Doug Farrar started writing about football locally in 2002, and became Football Outsiders' West Coast NFL guy in 2006. He was fascinated by FO's idea to combine Bill James with Dr. Z, and wrote for the site for six years. He wrote a game-tape column called "Cover-2" for a number of years, and contributed to six editions of "Pro Football Prospectus" and the "Football Outsiders Almanac." In 2009, Doug was invited to join Yahoo Sports' NFL team, and covered Senior Bowls, scouting combines, Super Bowls, and all sorts of other things for Yahoo Sports and the Shutdown Corner blog through June, 2013. Doug received the proverbial offer he couldn't refuse from SI.com in 2013, and that was that. Doug has also written for the Seattle Times, the Washington Post, the New York Sun, FOX Sports, ESPN.com, and ESPN The Magazine. He also makes regular appearances on several local and national radio shows, and has hosted several podcasts over the years. He counts Dan Jenkins, Thomas Boswell, Frank Deford, Ralph Wiley, Peter King, and Bill Simmons as the writers who made him want to do this for a living. In his rare off-time, Doug can be found reading, hiking, working out, searching for new Hendrix, Who, and MC5 bootlegs, and wondering if the Mariners will ever be good again.