DES MOINES, Iowa. – The Atlanta Falcons selected Drake University tight end Eric Saubert with the 31st pick of the fifth round (174 overall) of the 2017 National Football League Draft on Saturday at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, making Saubert the first Bulldog to be drafted since 1983.
 
Tight end Pat Dunsmore held the distinction of being the last Bulldog to be drafted after the Chicago Bears selected him with the 107th overall pick in the fourth round of the 1983 NFL Draft.
 
Saubert finished his outstanding career in the Blue and White with 191 receptions for 2,253 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. He collected four All-America honors in 2016, including the Associated Press, AFCA, STATS FCS and HERO Sports FCS; as well as three All-America honors in 2015. In addition to his All-America accolades, Saubert was a three-time first-team All-Pioneer Football League selection.
 
As a senior in 2016, Saubert ranked second among FCS tight ends in the nation in receiving yards per game (70.5) and receiving touchdown (10). He led Drake with a career-best 56 catches for 776 yards receiving.
 
Saubert is Drake's 25th all-time NFL Draft pick and the first in last 34 years.