METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says first round draft pick Sheldon Rankins, second-round choice Michael Thomas and seventh rounder Daniel Lasco have signed their rookie contracts. Loomis, who announced the signings Monday, says all three are under contract for four seasons. The 6-foot-1, 299-pound Rankins, a defensive tackle, was taken 12th overall out of Louisville. He had 133 tackles, including 31 1/2 tackles for losses and 18 sacks during his college career. Thomas, who is 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, was among Ohio State's leading receivers the past two years and won a national championship with the Buckeyes in 2014. Lasco, a running back out of California, was New Orleans' final draft pick. The Saints have released running back Vick Ballard, defensive end Phillip Hunt and fullback Toben Opurum. --- AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL
|