After trading TE Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks for C Max Unger and the 32nd overall pick, the Saints used that pick to acquire LB Stephone Anthony out of Clemson. Anthony led the team in tackles on a poor defensive unit, but struggled to get playing time after getting benched in 2016.
Anthony was supposed to be the long-term answer to the Inside Linebacker position once occupied by Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma in years past. Craig Robertson, originally signed to primarily be a rotational linebacker and special teams ace, got the bulk of playing time in the middle of the linebacking corps for the Saints last year.