NFL Draft History: Saints top picks feature offensive linemen and “Dome Patrol” linebackers
The Saints did not make the postseason until their 21st year in existence, and part of that has to do with the draft. Seven of the 10 players on the team’s “Worst” list were selected before New Orleans made the playoffs in 1987. The Saints’ “Best” list features two dominant offensive lineman, two members of the “Dome Patrol” linebacking corps, and one of the NFL’s most underrated receivers in the past 20 years.
BEST
10. (tie) Morten Andersen, K (Round 4, Pick 86 in 1982) and Archie Manning, QB (Round 1, Pick 2 in 1971) - Andersen was a 1981 All-American at Michigan State, and that season, he set a Big Ten record with a 63-yard field goal. The Denmark-born Andersen spent the first half of his 26-year career with New Orleans, and he holds the team record with 1,318 points. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro as a member of the Saints, and had 100 or more points nine times. Overall, Andersen totaled 2,544 points, which was the most in NFL history until Adam Vinatieri passed the mark in 2018.
Manning was an All-American, and the SEC Player of the Year in his 1969 junior season at Mississippi. He became the face during the early days of the Saints franchise in the 1970s. Although Manning only posted a 35-91-3 record for the perennially bad team, he was a two-time Pro Bowler, and ranks second in franchise history with 21,734 passing yards and third with 115 touchdowns despite missing the 1976 season after having right shoulder surgery. The Saints traded Manning to the Oilers early in the 1982 season, and Houston moved him to Minneapolis the following year. Since his retirement in 1984, Manning has worked as a radio and television analyst, a UPS spokesman and the owner of Manning’s, a restaurant and bar in New Orleans.
9. (tie) Chuck Muncie, RB (Round 1, Pick 3 in 1976), Deuce McAllister, RB (Round 1, Pick 23 in 2001), Mark Ingram, RB (Round 1, Pick 28 in 2011) and Alvin Kamara, RB (Round 3, Pick 67 in 2017) - This one spot contains four of the best running backs in franchise history. Muncie was called “Chuck” by his three brothers because they did not like his given name, Harry. He recovered from being hit by a truck when he was six years old and became a star at California, winning Pac-8 Player of the Year honors and finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1975. Muncie became the first Saints player to reach 1,000 yards rushing in a season, and the first to be selected to the Pro Bowl after a 1,198-yard, 11-touchdown campaign in 1979. After New Orleans started 0-4 the following year, they traded him to the Chargers, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL with 19 scores in 1981. Drug and alcohol problems began to take their toll, and San Diego tried to trade him to Miami in 1984, but his failed drug test voided the move. After that, he was suspended and never played in the NFL again, retiring in 1985. Muncie was arrested for attempting to sell cocaine in 1989, but turned his life around in prison and worked for the Boys & Girls Clubs of American when he got out. He died of a heart attack in 2013.
McAllister got his nickname in high school because he wore the number two jersey and because his coach had difficulty pronouncing his given name, Dulymus. He was a first-team All-SEC player as a member of Ole Miss, and he took over after the Ricky Williams debacle in New Orleans. He is the all-time leading rusher in Saints history with 6,096 yards, and he ranks second with 49 touchdowns. McAllister was selected to a pair of Pro Bowls and had four 1,000-yard seasons, with a high of 1,641 in 2003. Although he did not play during the 200 playoffs, he received a championship ring after the Saints beat the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. Since retiring in 2010, he has worked as a Saints studio analyst and also ran the Catch 22 Foundation, which helped underprivileged youth in the New Orleans area.
The son of a Super Bowl champion receiver of the same name, Ingram carved out his own stellar career. His 2009 season includes a National Championship with Alabama and a Heisman Trophy, plus SEC Offensive Player of the Year and All-American honors. Ingram is the all-time leader in Saints history with 50 rushing touchdowns, and ranks second with 6,007 yards in eight seasons. He was selected to a pair of Pro Bowls and also had two 1,000-yard seasons with New Orleans before signing with Baltimore in 2019.
Ingram became expendable because of the emergence of Kamara, a Tennessee product who earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 after posting 1,554 all-purpose yards and 13 total touchdowns. He has at least 1,300 yards from scrimmage in each of his three seasons, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl each year. In addition to 2,408 yards and 27 scores on the ground, Kamara has caught exactly 81 passes in all three seasons. He had 11 receptions for 96 yards in a loss to the Rams in the 2018 NFC Championship Game.
8. (tie) Wayne Martin, DE (Round 1, Pick 19 in 1989) and Cameron Jordan, DE (Round 1, Pick 24 in 2011) - Martin was an All-American with Arkansas in 1988, and he became one of the most stable players in the NFL during the 1990s. The 1994 Pro Bowler missed just five games in his 11-year career (all in 1990), and his 82½ sacks rank third in team history. Included in that total are five seasons with 10 or more, with a high of 15½ in 1992. Martin retired in 2000.
After earning All-Pac-10 honors at Cal in 2010, Jordan became sack master in New Orleans. His 87 career sacks rank second on the franchise list. Like Martin, he has five seasons in double-digits, and his high total was also 15½, which he posted in 2019. Jordan has been selected to five Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 2017, when he had 13 sacks and 11 passes defensed. Among his nine playoff games is the 2018 NFC title contest, in which he registered three tackles and a sack in an overtime loss to the Rams.
7. (tie) Jimmy Graham, TE (Round 3, Pick 95 in 2010) and Michael Thomas, WR (Round 2, Pick 47 in 2016) - In the three-person all-decade team draft story I was a part of a couple months ago, Graham was my pick at tight end. He was primarily a basketball player at the University of Miami, but played football for the Hurricanes while taking graduate classes in 2009. In five years with the Saints, he had 51 touchdowns (second in team history), 386 catches (fifth) and 4,752 yards (sixth). Graham was a three-time Pro Bowler in New Orleans and earned All-Pro honors after leading the NFL with 16 scores in 2013. He was traded to the Seahawks for center Max Unger in 2015, and earned two more Pro Bowl selections with Seattle. Graham signed with Green Bay in 2018, and had 59 yards receiving in the 2019 NFC Championship Game loss to San Francisco. He signed a two-year deal with the Bears in late March.
Thomas is arguably the best receiver in the NFL. He was a part of Ohio State’s National Championship team in 2015, and he started in New Orleans opposite Brandin Cooks as a rookie. Thomas has steadily improved his yardage totals each season, from 1,137 in 2016 to a league-high 1,725 last season. He also earned Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2019, after setting the NFL single-season record with 149 receptions, besting Marvin Harrison’s total of 143 with the Colts in 2002. The three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro ranks fourth in Saints history with 470 catches and 5,512 yards, and his 32 touchdowns sit seventh on the franchise list.
6. George Rogers, RB (Round 1, Pick 1 in 1981) - The franchise’s only number one pick, Rogers was certainly a well-deserving choice. He was the Heisman Trophy winner and an All-American at South Carolina in 1980 after leading the nation with 1,781 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Although the pick is questioned in hindsight after the dominating career of Lawrence Taylor, who the Giants selected second, Rogers produced like a top pick, at least initially. He earned Offensive Rookie of the Year, All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 1981 after leading the NFL with 1,674 yards to go with 13 scores. Rogers was a Pro Bowler again in the strike-shortened 1982 season, and ran for 1,144 yards the following year. In 1985, he was traded to Washington along with three picks for a first-round selection, which New Orleans used on Alvin Toles, who lasted four years, primarily as a special teams player. Rogers scored a league-high 18 touchdowns for the Redskins in 1986, and won a title with Washington the following season before retiring. Despite his production, Rogers had drug problems throughout his career, admitting to using cocaine as a rookie and checking into rehab in 1982. Rogers was also arrested in 1990 for possession and intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.
5. Pat Swilling, LB (Round 3, Pick 60 in 1998) - Swilling was an All-American with Georgia Tech in 1985, and also made his mark in the NFL. He spent seven seasons in New Orleans, earning four Pro Bowl and two All-Pro selections in that time. He posted 16½ sacks in 1989 and topped it two years later, leading the league with 17 sacks and earning Pro Bowl, All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year honors. In 1992, Swilling was an All-Pro once again, and all four members of the team’s “Dome Patrol” linebacking unit ( the other three were Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson and Sam Mills) made the Pro Bowl. He was traded to the Lions in 1993 and made the Pro Bowl, but moved on to Oakland two years later, where he finished out his career. He took a year off in 1997, but came back for one final season before retiring for good. Swilling ranks second in team history with 24 forced fumbles and fourth with 76½ sacks. From 2001-04, he served in the Louisiana House of Representatives, and he is now a real estate developer in New Orleans.
4. Jahri Evans, G (Round 4, Pick 108 in 2006) - Evans earned an academic scholarship to Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, where he was a two-time Division II All-American as a tackle (2004 and ’05). He moved to guard in the NFL and spent 11 of his 12 seasons with New Orleans. Evans was selected to six straight Pro Bowls (2009-14) and four All-Pro Teams. He also started 10 playoff games for the Saints, including the 2006 NFC Championship Game loss to the Bears as a rookie and a win over the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV three years later. In 2016, he was released by the Saints, but resigned with New Orleans after Seattle waived him in the last round of roster cuts. Evans signed with the Packers, and spent one season in Green Bay before retiring in 2017. Along with teammate Marques Colston, Evans was a minority owner of three teams in the Arena Football League (the Philadelphia Soul, Albany Empire and Atlantic City Blackjacks) until the league filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2019.
3. Willie Roaf, T (Round 1, Pick 8 in 1993) - Roaf was an All-American at Louisiana Tech in 1992, and the Saints acquired the pick used to draft him when they traded Pat Swilling to the Lions. During his nine-year stay in New Orleans, Roaf was selected to seven straight Pro Bowls (1994-2000) and two All-Pro teams. He missed nine games in the 2001 season with a torn ACL, and was traded to Kansas City the following year. Roaf went to the Pro Bowl all four years with the Chiefs, and also earned two All-Pro selections before he retired in 2005. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
2. Rickey Jackson, LB (Round 2, Pick 51 in 1981) - Despite being overshadowed by fellow Pittsburgh defensive end Hugh Green (who finished second behind George Rogers in the 1980 Heisman Trophy voting), Jackson earned second-team All-American honors that season. He became the most successful member of the “Dome Patrol,” earning six Pro Bowl selections in 13 seasons in New Orleans and also leading the league in forced fumbles four times. Jackson is the team’s all-time leader in sacks (115), solo tackles (1,104), forced fumbles (38) and fumble recoveries (27). His sack total includes six seasons with 10 or more. Jackson signed with the 49ers in 1994 and won his only Super Bowl that season, retiring in 1995. Jackson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the choices were announced one day before the Saints defeated the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.
1. Marques Colston, WR (Round 7, Pick 252 in 2006) - Colston was a star during his four-year tenure at I-AA Hofstra, and his size (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) caused many experts to project him as a tight end in the NFL. He was selected with the fourth-to-last pick in the 2006 Draft, but became a starter after New Orleans traded Donte Stallworth to the Eagles. Colston made the All-Rookie Team after posting eight touchdowns and 1,038 yards, his first of six 1,000-yard seasons. He is the all-time leader in Saints history with 711 catches, 9,759 yards and 72 scores. Despite all of these accolades, somehow he never earned Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors. He did win a title, contributing seven receptions and 83 yards to a Super Bowl XLIV victory. Like Evans, he was a minority owner in the AFL before the league folded in 2019.
WORST
10. Larry Burton, WR (Round 1, Pick 7 in 1975) - A former sprinter, Burton finished fourth in the 200-meter dash at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. After playing at Purdue, he started for two years in New Orleans, totaling 602 yards and four touchdowns. His production declined beginning in 1977, and he signed with San Diego a year later. After retiring in 1979, Burton worked for several civic and youth service organizations in the Long Beach, Calif. Area. His grandson, Trey, is a tight end with the Bears.
9. Joe Campbell, DE (Round 1, Pick 7 in 1977) - Campbell is a member of the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame, but the Maryland product had a forgettable NFL career. He spent parts of four seasons in New Orleans, playing 45 games, mostly on special teams. He was released and signed by Oakland in 1980, but he played just 13 games with the Raiders and seven with the Buccaneers before he retired in 1981.
8. Kurt Schumaker, T (Round 1, Pick 12 in 1975) - Schumacher played at Ohio State under legendary head coach Woody Hayes, and blocked for two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin. However, he played only 41 games in three years in New Orleans. Schumacher signed with Tampa Bay, where he played three games in 1977 before retiring. He now works with a business marketing company.
7. Rick Middleton, LB (Round 1, Pick 13 in 1974) - Another Ohio State product, Middleton lasted just two years with the Saints. He signed with the Chargers in 1976 and spent three years in San Diego before retiring in 1978. Middleton is a high school History, Government and Psychology teacher in Ohio.
6. Royce Smith, G (Round 1, Pick 8 in 1972) - Smith was an early proponent of using weight training as part of football workouts. The regimen worked, as he earned All-American honors at Georgia in 1971. However, he could hardly crack a starting lineup in the NFL. In two seasons with the Saints, he played 24 games and started 13. Smith signed with the Falcons in 1974, and started just eight games in three years with Atlanta before he retired in 1976. He passed away in 2004.
5. Shawn Knight, DE (Round 1, Pick 11 in 1987) - Knight had 16 sacks with BYU in 1986, but he played just three seasons in the NFL. He reported late to training camp as a rookie, and appeared in 10 games with the Saints before he was traded to the Broncos in 1988. The following year, he joined the Phoenix Cardinals, where he made his only start in 31 career games. Knight played in 1991 with the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football (later called NFL Europe) before retiring.
4. Kevin Hardy, DT (Round 1, Pick 7 in 1968) - Hardy was a two-time All-American in 1966 and 1967, and was a part of Notre Dame’s National Championship team in 1966. He never played a game for the Saints, however, because he was awarded to the 49ers after New Orleans signed San Francisco wide Dave Parks. In those days, there was no such thing as restricted free agency, but the commissioner had the ability to transfer draft picks or even players to other franchises if they signed another team’s top-caliber free agent, which was the case with the Parks situation. Hardy played 45 games in four seasons with the 49ers, Packers and Chargers. He also missed the 1969 season with a knee injury. Hardy retired in 1972, and is an investment industry executive in Los Angeles.
3. Johnathan Sullivan, DT (Round 1, Pick 6 in 2003) - After trading Ricky Williams to the Dolphins, the Saints had two picks in the 2003 first round, which were both traded to move up to sixth overall. They took Sullivan, a Georgia product who eventually had only 1½ sacks in 36 games with New Orleans. When Sean Payton took over as Saints head coach in 2006, one of his first moves was trading Sullivan to the Patriots. Soon after, the Defensive Tackle was arrested on drug charges in Georgia and was released by New England.
2. Ricky Williams, RB (Round 1, Pick 5 in 1999) - Williams occupies this spot more for what the Saints traded away than his production with the team. His 1998 season with Texas included a Heisman Trophy, Maxwell and Walter Camp awards, AP and Sporting News Player of the Year honors and his second All-American selection after his first in 1997. New Orleans sent their entire 1996 draft (six selections), plus first- and third-round picks in 2000 to Washington for the fifth pick and selected Williams. Saints fans were excited, and the media was in a frenzy as well (complete with a 1999 ESPN the Magazine cover featuring Williams in a wedding dress and new Saints coach Mike Ditka in a tuxedo). After a solid rookie season, Williams had two straight 1,000-yard campaigns. He was traded to the Dolphins in 2000 for a package of four draft picks, including two first-rounders. In Miami, Williams earned his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after leading the NFL with 1,853 yards to go along with a career-high 16 touchdowns.
Williams’ main issue was marijuana. He retired in 2004, rather than face a four-game suspension for his third violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, then returned the following year. After a fourth drug policy violation, he was suspended for the entire 2006 season. Williams spent his year away from the NFL with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts before returning to the Dolphins in 2007. He played four more seasons with Miami and one with the Baltimore Ravens before retiring in early 2012. Williams is a medical cannabis advocate, and started his own herbal wellness company in 2018.
1. Russell Erxleben, P/K (Round 1, Pick 11 in 1979) - There’s no surprise that a franchise with so many poor draft picks in such a short time would be bad. However, New Orleans fell to particularly depressing depths, with fans calling the team the “Aints” and coming to games with paper bags on their heads. No pick is more synonymous with this forgettable time in franchise history than Erxleben, a punter who was drafted in the first round (yes, you are reading that correctly). He was a three-time All-American at Texas from 1976 to 1978, and holds an NCAA record with a 67-yard field goal in 1977. The mark may never be broken, after a rule change prohibited the use of kicking tees on field goal attempts. The Saints used him primarily as a punter, and he averaged 40.6 yards per kick in five seasons with New Orleans. Eventually, the Saints drafted Morten Andersen as a kicker and Brian Hansen as a punter, and they released Erxeben early in 1984. He attempted a comeback with the Lions three years later, but retired for good in early 1988. Erxleben got in legal trouble after his playing career. He ran a foreign exchange trading company, and was convicted of fraud and money laundering that resulted in a seven-year prison sentence in 2000. Erxleben was arrested again in 2013 for involvement in an alleged Ponzi scheme. He was released in 2019.
All NFL statistics and awards courtesy of https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ and college football statistics and awards courtesy of https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/
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