The Saints 15th-overall selection, safety Kenny Vaccaro, becomes the first first-round pick from the 2013 NFL Draft class to sign a contract.
The team announced Thursday that it had signed four players. In addition to Vaccaro, who starred collegiately at Texas, New Orleans inked third-round tackle Terron Armstead, fifth-round wideout Kenny Stills, and sixth-round linebacker Rufus Johnson.
Vaccaro was the first safety selected in last month's draft and is listed first on the depth chart ahead of veteran Roman Harper heading into the team's rookie minicamp, which begins Friday.
Harper said Wednesday that he wasn't surprised the Saints drafted a safety and welcomes the challenge of fighting for his job.
"[W]e needed to draft a safety at some point this year," Harper said according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune's Mike Triplett. "I’m what, Year 8? Malcolm [Jenkins] is in the last year of his deal. It’s part of the business. If you don’t think that’s gonna happen, you’re wrong. So I’m looking forward to the competition. I’ve seen some of the things that we’re installing. Looks like we’ve got some different things that we can really make some things go. So it’s gonna be good.
"I hope he's a very talented player," Harper said of Vaccaro. "I can't wait to get to work with this kid and teach him the ropes. And we're gonna have a successful year. So as long as he's ready to come in and work and get better and win some games, then he's gonna fit in perfectly. And I'm looking forward to it."