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The debate is still on among analysts about whether or not the safety position was a priority need for the New Orleans Saints, but the team made their intentions known in the NFL Draft.

Of the two players they selected at the position, out of just five total draft picks, former Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was the one the Saints wanted to get their hands on.

So much so, that they traded up 11 spots to make sure they drafted him.

After watching the player get reps during rookie minicamp, Saints secondary coach Aaron Glenn said the former Gators defensive standout looks exactly as advertised.

“It’s limitless what this player can do,” Glenn said. “We’re just excited to have him and I’m sure [defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is] going to make schemes to be able to use this player, to make sure his versatility is used out there.”

Gardner-Johnson was added to the starting lineup at Florida as a freshman in the 2016 season and played an important part in the Gators’ defensive resurgence this past season.

He intercepted nine passes in total, returning three of them for touchdowns. Four of his interceptions and two of his touchdown returns, came in his final collegiate season, when he also had three sacks, nine tackles for losses, two pass defenses, and 71 combined tackles.

The Saints already have their two starting players inked in at both safety positions, with Marcus Williams and Vonn Bell expected to reprise their roles this coming season.

But the team has also shown a tendency in recent years to feature three safety alignments, and were in the market for a defensive back who can play in the slot, near the line, and deep in coverage.

That’s where Gardner-Johnson comes in.

“He does have the speed and the mentality to go out there and play corner, but he can play nickel, he can play in the box, he can play deep safety, so you have fun with players like that,” Glenn said.

“I’m excited to see what all we can do with him. And plus, he has the mental capacity to be able to take all that information in and apply it right to the field.”

Last season, Florida ranked first in the nation in fourth quarter passing defense efficiency and placed second in fourth quarter opponent completion percentage.

Gardner-Johnson brings a combination of deep field pass coverage against receivers and solid play around the line of scrimmage when applying pressure to the quarterback.

A former four star recruit, according to the industry generated 247Sports Composite, Gardner-Johnson led the Southeastern Conference in targets when covering the slot (54) this past season, but still allowed the lowest passer rating in that league from opposing quarterbacks (45.4).

With the kind of speed Gardner-Johnson has closing on ball carriers and tracking receivers in space, the Saints expect to get him on the field as soon as possible this season.

Gardner-Johnson and fellow Saints draft pick Saquan Hampton, the former Rutgers safety, teamed up on an interception off a deflected pass during the team’s rookie minicamp.

“It’s just exciting to know you’ve got a good player that you had rated high that’s on your team,” Glenn said. “So with (him) and Saquon, it was the same thing with both of those guys.”