Saints sign 2020 draft class to contracts

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It’s official, the New Orleans Saints have all of their 2020 draft picks under contract.
On Monday, Michigan offensive lineman Ceasar Ruiz, Wisconsin linebacker Zach Braun, Dayton tight end Adam Trautman and Mississippi State quarterback Tommy Stevens, all agreed to contracts when they reported to training camp.
Ruiz, a projected center for the Saints, was selected in the first round (No. 24) after New Orleans traded up to pick up the Michigan interior lineman. Ruiz was an all-Big Ten pick in 2018 (third team) and 2019 (second team).
The 6’4”, 319 pound New Jersey native started 31 out of 36 games the three years he played for the Wolverines. Ruiz entered the draft as junior.
Braun was picked up in the third round of the draft (No. 74) was the Badgers’ first consensus first-team All-America linebacker in school history in 2019. Braun collected 76 tackles, two passes defenses, one interception returned for a touchdown and a career-high 12.5 sacks this past season.
Braun completed his career with 154 tackles, 15.0 sacks, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. The Wisconsin native graduated in December 2019 with a degree in retailing and consumer behavior.
Trautman was also selected in the third round (No. 105). As a Dayton Flyer, Trautman led the Flyers in receiving with 70 receptions for 916 yards and 14 touchdowns while earning AP First-Team All-American honors.
Trautman appeared in 44 games (40 starts) for Dayton in his four-year career. In his collegiate career, Trautman set school records for receptions (178) and receiving yards (2,295) while hauling in 31 touchdowns.
With no picks left in the draft, the Saints traded back in to take Stephens in the seventh round (No. 240). Stevens joined Mississippi State as a graduate transfer after completing his telecommunications degree at Penn St. in 2018.
In his single season at Mississippi State, Stephens started in nine games and finished the year completing 60.2 percent of his passes for 1,155 yards and 11 touchdowns with only five interceptions. Stevens also added 381 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 83 attempts.