Gophers defensive backs Jordan Howden, Terell Smith drafted in fifth round by Saints, Bears

Former Gophers defensive backs Jordan Howden and Terell Smith were selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday.

Howden is headed to New Orleans after the Saints used the 146th overall pick, and 19 picks later the Bears took Smith at 165th overall. They're the second and third ex-Gophers players drafted this week following center John Michael Schmitz, who was a second-round pick by the Giants on Friday night.

Howden was a preferred walk-on who developed into a five-year starter and team captain for the Gophers secondary. During the NFL Scouting Combine, Howden said he leans on support from his father, Ramsese, a former cornerback at Grambling State, and his cousin, Saladin Martin, played three years in the NFL.

Smith, the former three-star recruit, burst onto the scene at Minnesota with eight deflections as a freshman in 2018. He continued to ascend as a four-year starter, landing on pro radars with NFL-coveted size (6 feet, 204 pounds) and speed (4.41-seconds in the 40-yard dash). He's the second cornerback drafted by the Bears, after Miami's Tyrique Stevenson was taken in the second round.

The Gophers also had two defensive backs drafted in 2020 when safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (45th overall) and cornerback Chris Williamson (247th) were taken by the Bucs and Giants.

The Colts selected former Maple Grove High School star Evan Hull, the Northwestern running back. Hull was taken at the end of the fifth round (176th overall). He tested well at the combine, ranking seventh among running backs with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. He was also a productive receiving back with 55 catches for 546 yards last season.

Five former Gophers agreed to undrafted deals on Saturday, according to the university: running back Mohamed Ibrahim (Lions), quarterback Tanner Morgan (Steelers), defensive lineman Thomas Rush (Titans), linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin (49ers), and guard Chuck Filiaga (Packers).

Former Gophers kicker Matthew Trickett was invited to Atlanta for a Falcons rookie minicamp tryout.

The Packers also agreed to sign Benny Sapp III, the former Eden Prairie, Gophers and Northern Iowa defensive back who is the son of former Vikings defensive back Benny Sapp.

According to North Dakota State, tight end Noah Gindorff (Crosby, Minn.) signed with the Seahawks and guard Nash Jensen (Maple Grove) with the Panthers.

Star Tribune writer Randy Johnson contributed to this report.