Former Syracuse offensive tackle Sean Hickey has signed with the New Orleans Saints after not being picked in the NFL Draft, according to an SU Athletics press release. Hickey’s signing was first reported by Syracuse.com.

Hickey started in 38 games over the past three seasons, mostly at left tackle and was the only SU offensive lineman to start all 12 games last season.

He is one of three Syracuse players to sign with a team as an undrafted free agent. Safety Durell Eskridge signed with the New York Jets, he announced in an Instagram post, and defensive lineman Eric Crume tweeted that he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hickey said he had workouts with eight different teams and expected to be taken between the third and fifth rounds. As of late Thursday afternoon, he was projected to be taken in the sixth round by CBS Sports.

Hickey said that he can play either guard or tackle at the professional level and that his versatility is what interested teams during the pre-draft process.

“Some teams have said that I could be a tackle that could swing down to guard if they need me to or flip-flop at the tackle position,” Hickey said in a teleconference on Tuesday. “Then some teams think I’m first a guard that could go out and play tackle. All those teams know and believe that I’m a versatile player and, if need be, play four positions on the offensive line.”

Before Syracuse’s Pro Day on April 7, Hickey battled an illness the caused him to not eat for two days and lose eight pounds in the week leading up to it. While he still participated in every drill, he said on Tuesday that his ability to push through fatigue was compromised.

The 6-foot-5, 309-pound lineman decided after 2013 to come back for his final year of eligibility. He said he wanted to enter the NFL Draft in the best physical condition possible, which he said he accomplished by staying for 2014.

“When I go back and watch tape of all the games in 2013 and all the games in 2014, I know that I was definitely a little quicker in my stance,” Hickey said, “I was a little quicker in the run game and I was bigger.”

Published on May 2, 2015 at 8:31 pm

Contact Paul: pmschwed@syr.edu | @pschweds