2017 NFL Draft: Expectations for Ohio State Buckeyes as rookies
By Alec Hartman
The first Buckeye selected in the draft was cornerback Marshon Lattimore. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the 11th overall pick during the 2017 NFL Draft.
Marshon Lattimore, like many of the Buckeyes’ top players last season, was an instant phenom. The Ohio native was a key cog in operating the defense responsible for the most interceptions returned for touchdowns and second most points off turnovers in college football according to NCAA.com.
The New Orleans Saints have been dreadful on defense the past few seasons and even that description would be putting it politely. According to ESPN.com, the Saints haven’t ranked higher than 27th in total defense since 2013.
Per the same website, their pass defense ranked dead last in the NFL last season and was second last in the season before that.
It’s safe to say that the Saints were in dire need of an impact player which made them the perfect suitor for Lattimore.
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The team will likely waste no time inserting him into the starting lineup as there is no real competition on their defense. Lattimore will also be joining fellow Ohio State alumnus and defensive back Vonn Bell who was a rookie last season.
Expectations will be high for Lattimore as he was the second highest defensive back taken off the board per NFL.com. This should be nothing new as he took off running with the starting role in college.
It looks like he also has the opportunity to take the reigns of this struggling defense and lead it in right direction. Lattimore will be given every opportunity to make an impact on this team. Don’t be surprised when you start to hear his name come up more often.