The Saints’ best and worst picks in each round

A look back at the best and worst picks New Orleans has made in history

1st Round

Best: Cameron Jordan – DE, 2011

The New Orleans Saints drafted Cameron Jordan 24th overall out of Cal in 2011, and 13 years later he sits as the official all-time sack leader in team history. As the anchor of the Saints defense for a decade, Jordan was the fifth defensive end drafted in 2011 and currently leads his draft class in career sacks, a class that included J.J. Watt, Ryan Kerrigan, and Robert Quinn.

Honorable Mentions: Willie Roaf, Deuce McAllister, Archie Manning, Marshon Lattimore

Worst: Russell Erxleben – P, 1979

The Saints drafted a punter 11th overall in 1979. Yes, you read that right. Erxleben was a 3-time All-American at the University of Texas, but no punter, no matter how good would ever be worth the 11th overall pick. Made even worse by the fact that Hall of Famers Kellen Winslow and Joe Montana were taken later in the draft. Erxleben never became one of the best punters in the NFL and was out of New Orleans after just three seasons. Other players drafted in the first round certainly produced less than Erxleben in their careers in New Orleans, but just the fact that they drafted a punter 11th overall makes this the worst first round pick in team history. This was, still is, and always will be the highest a punter or kicker has been drafted since the merger. Even Ray Guy, the only other first round punter in NFL history, was taken 23rd overall in 1973 and would go on to be a Hall of Famer. The Saints would not be able to replicate this “success” six years later with Erxleben.

Honorable Mentions: Stephone Anthony, Payton Turner, Johnathan Sullivan

2nd Round

Best: Rickey Jackson – OLB, 1981

The team’s first Hall of Famer, Rickey Jackson’s arrival sparked the first stretch of good football played in Saints history. Jackson was a dominant pass rusher in the 80’s and 90’s and retired with the third most sacks in NFL history. Jackson was one of the first three inductees into the Saints ring of honor in 2013 along with Manning and Roaf.

Honorable Mentions: Michael Thomas, Tracy Porter, Erik McCoy, Dave Waymer

Worst: Stanley Jean-Baptiste – CB, 2014

Jean-Baptiste was drafted 58th overall out of Nebraska after a second-team All-Big Ten season. He would play in just 4 games his rookie season primarily on special teams, and after a poor performance in the 2015 preseason was waived before the start of the year. He would go on to be a part of five different practice squads, appearing in just one more regular season game for the Ravens in 2017.

Honorable Mentions: Reggie Freeman, Sam Holden

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

3rd Round

Best: Alvin Kamara – RB, 2017

Despite bringing in future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson in the 2017 offseason and already having 1,000-yard rusher Mark Ingram on the roster, the Saints still had the foresight to draft the versatile Kamara out of Tennessee in the 3rd round of the Saints 2017 draft class, perhaps the best draft class by any team in the NFL in the 2010s. Peterson lasted just 4 games in New Orleans while Kamara and Ingram would form one of the best running back tandems in the NFL. Kamara is currently the Saints all-time leader in all-purpose yards, total TDs, and rushing TDs, and is just 671 yards away from becoming the all-time leading rusher in team history, and 781 receiving yards away from becoming just the fifth player in NFL history with 5,000 career rushing and 5,000 career receiving yards.

Honorable Mentions: Pat Swilling, Jimmy Graham, Terron Armstead

Worst: Cie Grant – LB, 2003

Known for making the game-winning play in Ohio State’s 2003 national title game, Grant was drafted 86th overall by the Saints in 2003, ahead of players like Asante Samuel and Robert Mathis. Grant only appeared in 7 games in his rookie season registering 4 total tackles. He would never appear in another NFL game after his rookie year.

Honorable Mentions: Kim Phillips, John Krimm

4th Round

Best: Jahri Evans – OG, 2006

Offensive guards selected 108th overall out of Division II schools don’t usually go on to become 5-time All-Pros, members of an NFL All-Decade team and potentially a future Hall of Famer. Jahri Evans did just that while also winning a Super Bowl and anchoring the Saints offensive line for 10 seasons. He is the best interior lineman in team history and hopefully will wind up in Canton one day.

Honorable Mentions: Morten Anderson, Jermon Bushrod, Joel Hilgenberg

Worst: Danny Wuerffel – QB, 1997

The Heisman Trophy winner out of Florida was never considered a topflight NFL prospect due to concerns about his arm strength and the lack of translation between the system he played in in college to the NFL. Regardless, Mike Ditka selected him in the 4th round of the 1997 NFL draft to complete what was one of the worst QB rooms in NFL history. Led by Heath Shuler, one of the biggest busts in NFL history who the Saints decided to trade for and immediately name the starter in 1997, and also including future coach Doug Nussmeier along with Billy Joe Hobert and Wuerffel, the highest rated passer on the team that year was running back Mario Bates. Wuerffel would never replicate the success he had at Florida in the NFL, as in his three years in New Orleans he threw 9 touchdowns to 16 interceptions with a QB rating of 51.2. Consider also that after the 1997 draft the Saints signed QB and Louisiana product Jake Delhomme as an undrafted free agent, who would be passed over for a string of bad QBs including Wuerffel and remain on the Saints practice squad during his rookie year. Delhomme would eventually get some limited playing time but couldn’t beat out Aaron Brooks. He would eventually make a Pro Bowl and lead the division rival Panthers to a Super Bowl in 2003 before the Saints made their first appearance.

Honorable Mentions: Ian Book, Ricky Whittle

Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

5th Round

Best: Thomas Morstead – P, 2009

How many rookie punters can claim they made arguably the biggest play in their franchise’s history? Thomas Morstead certainly can, as it was his successful onside kick that turned the tide of Super Bowl XLIV to secure the Saints first championship. Morstead would make one All-Pro team and was the Saints punter for 12 years.

Honorable Mentions: Carl Nicks, Kenny Stills

Worst: Vinnie Sunseri – S, 2014

Sunseri had a very good career as a defensive back and special teamer at Alabama, but his time in New Orleans lasted just 9 games as injuries prevented him from developing as a pro.

Honorable Mentions: Ronald Powell, Terry Guess

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

6th Round

Best: Fred McAfee – Gunner, 1991

McAfee was a part of the first three division titles in team history in 1991, 2000, and 2006. His first stint with the Saints lasted just three seasons, but he returned in 2000 after failing to find his niche as a running back across the league to become one of the best special teamers of his era. Known also as a great locker room guy, he was named first team All-Pro in 2002 and inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2022. Upon his retirement in 2007 the Saints immediately hired him as Director of Player Programs, and he still works in the Saints front office to this day.

Honorable Mentions: Floyd Turner, Johnnie Poe

Worst: Marc Bulger – QB, 2000

Bulger is on this list solely for being the QB the Saints selected ahead of Tom Brady. He would go on to have a good career in the NFL, being the only other Pro Bowl QB from that class, but for the St. Louis Rams, as the Saints would leave him on the practice squad for the Falcons and eventually the Rams to pick up. The Saints could have taken Brady here but given that they couldn’t even figure out Bulger would develop into a 2-time Pro Bowler they probably would have let someone steal Brady off their practice squad anyway.

Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images

7th Round

Best: Marques Colston – WR, 2006

The best receiver in Saints history was an unheralded 7th round pick out of Hofstra in 2006. As Drew Brees’ #1 option for a decade, he is the team’s current leader in career receiving yards, receptions, receiving TDs, and 1,000-yard seasons. Following in Eric Martin’s footsteps, the Saints #1 and #2 career receiving leaders have both been 7th round picks.

Honorable Mentions: Eric Martin, Zach Strief, Gene Atkins

Worst: Scott Hough – OT, 1990

Hough goes down as the worst 7th round pick in team history because he was so obscure I legitimately cannot find out if he ever played a game for the Saints, and for the fact that he was taken nine picks ahead of future Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe is still the most recent 7th round Hall of Famer and was the first since 1971. Imagining what the Dome Patrol era teams could have done with a weapon like Sharpe on the offense is pretty scary so let’s just not.

Honorable Mentions: Alize Mack, Greg Romeus

Best in the 8th Round and Later:

• Toi Cook (8th Round) – CB, 1987

5-year starter at CB, 16 interceptions and 294 tackles with the Saints

• Joe Owens (9th Round) – DE, 1969

5 years with the Saints, 38 career sacks

• Bob Pollard (11th Round) – DE, 1971

Missed just 3 games in 7 years as the starting DT, 37 career sacks

• Jim Wilks (12th Round) – DE, 1981

4th most games played by a Saints defender, 49 career sacks

• Danny Abramowicz (17th Round) – WR, 1967

All-Pro in 1969, first 1,000-yard season in team history

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