Former Auburn safety Smoke Monday makes undrafted free agency decision

After the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Draft, former Auburn safety Smoke Monday made a decision on which team he would join in free agency. Monday will be signing with the New Orleans Saints after going undrafted, after the Saints used their second-round draft pick on cornerback Alontae Taylor.

Smoke Monday makes free agency decision

“Former Auburn safety Smoke Monday is signing with the Saints,” stated NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero after the draft concluded.

Monday played all four seasons of his college career with Auburn, appearing in 44 games for the Tigers. He finished his career with five interceptions — three of which he returned for touchdowns — and a forced fumble, alongside six sacks and 17 tackles for a loss.

The draft took center stage in Las Vegas as the first five players selected were all defensive stars. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Travon Walker from Georgia with the number one overall pick of the draft. After him, in order — Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan, Derek Stingley Jr. of LSU, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner of Cincinnati and Kayvon Thibodeaux of Oregon.

The first wide receiver selected was USC’s Drake London, picked by Atlanta with the eighth overall pick. The first quarterback selected was Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, who will stay in Pittsburgh with the Steelers after being drafted 20th overall.

Day one of the draft saw a record number of trades, as nine trades were made in the first round alone — the most ever in the first round since it moved to its own day in 2010. It was also the first time no offensive players were drafted in the first five picks of the draft since 1991.