Contract details revealed for Smoke Monday, New Orleans Saints following 2022 NFL Draft

He may not have been selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean Smoke Monday is not going to have a career in the NFL. Despite not being picked up during the draft, which ran from Thursday to Saturday, Monday – who was a standout safety at Auburn – has signed an undrafted free agent deal with the New Orleans Saints.

According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, Monday’s deal with the Saints includes $120,000 guaranteed – with $100,000 of that being the safety’s base salary and $20,000 coming from his signing bonus. While Monday would’ve liked to have been an NFL Draft pick, he still gets the chance to compete for a spot on New Orleans’ roster – and gets paid in the process.

A 6-foot-3, 199-pound defender, Monday put together a strong 2021 campaign for Auburn. While recording 63 total tackles, Monday also tallied nine tackles for loss to go along with two sacks and an interception – and that’s what impressed the New Orleans Saints while they were exploring undrafted free agent options.

New Orleans Saints select Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor in 2022 NFL Draft

The New Orleans Saints are banking on Tennessee product Alontae Taylor to come in and give their secondary a boost. After playing a pivotal role throughout his time in Knoxville, the former Volunteers’ defensive back will be expected to do the same in his NFL career.

That’s why the Saints took him off the board early in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Friday night, picking him No. 49 overall.

In his four seasons with the Volunteers, Taylor proved why NFL teams were intrigued by his ability. Last season, the star cornerback helped lay a foundation for first-year Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, as the Volunteers look primed for good days ahead under their second-year coach. In 2021, Taylor accumulated 60 total tackles, six pass deflections and two interceptions in a loaded SEC.