Top 50 New Orleans Saints of All-Time: No. 10-6

We’re inside the Top 10 of our Top 50 All-Time New Orleans Saints players from the past 50 years. From here on out, it’s the cream of the crop of the greatest to put on black and gold and proudly embody the fleur-de-lis. Before we get too far, let’s recap.

50. Tracy Porter
49. Scott Fujita
48. John Carney
47. Dave Whitsell
46. Tommy Barnhardt
45. Tyrone Hughes
44. Thomas Morstead
43. Michael Lewis
42. Tom Dempsey
41. Joe Johnson
40. Fred McAfee
39. John Hill
38. Reggie Bush
37. Frank Warren
36. Jonathan Vilma
35. Derland Moore
34. Jim Wilks
33. Aaron Brooks
32. Jim Dombrowski
31. Will Smith
30. Sammy Knight
29. Hoby Brenner
28. Stan Brock
27. Jahri Evans
26. Dave Waymer
25. La’Roi Glover
24. Tom Myers
23. Wayne Martin
22. Steve Gleason
21. Jimmy Graham
20. Bobby Hebert
19. Henry Childs
18. Tony Galbreath
17. Chuck Muncie
16. Pierre Thomas
15. Danny Abramowicz
14. George Rogers
13. Eric Martin
12. Dalton Hilliard
11. Vaughan Johnson

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

10. Joe Horn (2000-2006)

Joe Horn may be widely known for the infamous cell phone touchdown celebration gag, but he was a dang good receiver for the Saints in his 102 games played. Horn's 523 receptions for 7,622 yards and 50 touchdowns rank third in franchise history. That's not bad at all for a player who struggled heavily in his first four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.

After joining the team as a free agent, Horn didn't disappoint. He made the Pro Bowl from 2000-2002, and again in 2004 for his stellar receiving seasons. Many might forget, but Horn was a huge voice in restoration efforts following Hurricane Katrina, and even called out then Commissioner Paul Tagliabue for the NFL's lack of attention to things. He was eventually inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2010,

9. Pat Swilling (1986-1992)

Our second anchor from the Dome Patrol, Pat Swilling, was just as important as the others. Swilling's 76.5 sacks is good for third in franchise history, and his 24 forced fumbles is second-highest in franchise history. With the Saints, Swilling appeared in four straight Pro Bowls from 1989-1992, and was a consistent All-Pro. He was even named as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 after turning in 17 sacks.

How respected was Pat Swilling? Shortly before a New York Giants playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams in January 1990, head coach Bill Parcells told Lawrence Taylor, "I want you to go to New Orleans, Go find Pat Swilling. Give him your plane ticket and your helmet. You stay in New Orleans and have a nice time. He'll play." Swilling was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2000.

Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

8. Deuce McAllister (2001-2009)

No one did more on the ground than Deuce McAllister, who is the franchise's leading rusher with 6,096 yards. Deuce Dozer also hold's the team record for most rushing touchdowns with 49 through his 97 games played. The Gulf Coast native was the 23rd overall pick by the Saints in 2001 following their big playoff season, but wasn't in the spotlight to begin with serving as Ricky Williams' backup.

McAllister would eventually take over in 2002 after Williams was traded to the Miami Dolphins, and the Saints couldn't have been happier. McAllister made the Pro Bowl in 2002 and 2003, and was also the NFC's leading rusher in his second season.

The true mark of McAllister came in 2006 after he bounced back from a torn ACL and also overcame Hurricane Katrina madness to become a 1,000-yard rusher with 10 touchdowns. Although injuries effectively ended his career, McAllister was also an important figure to the Saints in their 2009 playoff run. He was an honorary captain for the team's opening playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals, in which Sean Payton said in a statement, "Deuce McAllister has always embodied the spirit of the New Orleans Saints and the city of New Orleans." He also received a Super Bowl ring despite not playing.

McAllister was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2012 along with owner Tom Benson, and is now Jim Henderson's radio partner in crime for WWL.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

7. Marques Colston (2006-2015)

What more can you say about the 'Quiet Storm' that hasn't been said? Marques Colston is the greatest receiver to ever put on black and gold. He holds the franchise record for most receptions (711), receiving yards (9,759), receiving touchdowns (72), total touchdowns (72), and yards from scrimmage (9,766). His six 1,000-yard receiving seasons, 28 games with 100 or more yards receiving, and 146 games played as a receiver are also franchise records. He did all of this as a seventh-round pick out of Hofstra.

Colston is one of the greatest players to never make the Pro Bowl, and is 49th on the all-time receiving leader list. He's most definitely in the Saints Hall of Fame when the time comes, and his No. 12 should be a number the organization should consider retiring. Let's face it, New Orleans will always love Marques Colston.

Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

6. Sam Mills (1986-1994)

Jim Mora said that Sam Mills was one of the greatest players he's ever coached. As a 5-foot-9 inside linebacker, Mills was considered very 'undersized' at his position. In fact, that stature nearly got him cut during 1983 when Mora was coaching in the USFL league. However, that never stopped him.

Mills is the franchise's second-highest tackler with 894 total tackles through 133 games. He was the last part of the Dome Patrol to leave after a more than respectable career, which was highlighted by four Pro Bowls and two All-Pro seasons with the Saints. Mills just kept going and going, and would be inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 1998.

Sadly, Mills lost a two-year battle with intestinal cancer in 2005, passing away at the age of 45. His legacy lives on, and will never be forgotten.