Hubbard’s All-Time New Orleans Saints team

Building the best Saints team of all time.

By Luke Hubbard Jun 24, 2024, 10:00am CDT

Wild Card Round - Chicago Bears v New Orleans Saints

For a long time the New Orleans Saints were the laughingstock of the league. So much so that some fans wore paper bags over their heads while attending home games.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated the State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans, it looked like hope was lost and the franchise might relocate to San Antonio, but after tons of rumors and speculation, the team remained in New Orleans and two saviors by the names Sean Payton and Drew Brees were about to completely changed the way the New Orleans Saints were viewed.

Now, nearly 20 years later, the Saints have become one of the most successful franchises in the NFL in recent memory (outside of the last three seasons). They won a Super Bowl, are seventh in wins since 2000 and had one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time.

Even through the rough years, the Saints had players who stood out amongst the rest and established themselves as some of the best to ever do it, so today, we’re going to go back and build the best all-time Saints team possible.

QB - Drew Brees

I don’t think I need to explain this choice too much. Drew Brees is one-of-a-kind and was the savior the city needed after Katrina. He holds virtually every Saints QB record ever and plenty of NFL records as well. He’s one of the best to ever do it (the best in my mind, but I digress) and will very soon be enshrined forever in Canton, Ohio.

WR1 - Marques Colston

New Orleans Saints v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Probably the most underrated wide receiver of all-time, Marques Colston is the best WR to ever wear the black and gold in my opinion. The 252nd pick in the 2006 NFL Draft helped the Saints win their first ever Super Bowl and boasts many franchise records including receiving yards (9,759), receptions (711) and touchdowns (72). Don’t think there will be too much debate about this pick.

WR2 - Joe Horn

Again, not too hard of a decision here. After he was drafted by Kansas City, Horn came to New Orleans where he’d spend seven seasons, racking up 7,622 yards and 50 touchdowns, which both rank third all-time. He’ll forever be known for his classic cellphone celebration and one of the best to wear the Saints uniform.

WR3 - Michael Thomas

I know there’s a case to be made for Eric Martin as the WR3, but if you told me you have to pick one Saints receiver that was in their prime for one season, it would be Michael Thomas. I know there’s some bad blood with Saints fans and the drama surrounding him, but you cannot deny that he was the best Saints WR ever when he was at his peak. However, I would not be mad if you put Eric Martin here.

RB1 - Alvin Kamara

Don’t think about this as RB1 and RB2 as much as just two guys who would split time. I chose Alvin Kamara as the RB1 just because he’s so versatile and is one of my favorite players to watch of all-time, but I wouldn’t complain if you had the next guy above him.

RB2 - Deuce McAllister

NFC Championship: Minnesota Vikings v New Orleans Saints

When it comes to the Saints best pure rusher of all-time, Deuce McAllister takes the cake. He spent all eight years of his career in New Orleans and is second all-time in rushing yards with just over 6,000. Injuries plagued him late in his career, but from 2002-2004, he amassed 4,103 yards and 30 touchdowns. If he had stayed healthy, he could’ve had a much better career, but his peak was amazing.

TE - Jimmy Graham

As a kid who started really watching football in the late 2000’s-early 2010’s, Jimmy Graham is the player who made me fall in love with the game (outside of Drew Brees). His prime from 2011-2014 was so much fun to watch. He was a redzone machine, but he also averaged 1,100 yards per season over that span. It’s been so much fun seeing him back in NOLA, but I wish he was utilized properly last season.

LT - Willie Roaf

Arguably the second greatest Saint of all-time after Drew Brees, Willie Roaf was an absolute unit at left tackle for the entirety of his career. I wasn’t around to see it, but from watching old games and just hearing about him, I don’t think there was anybody else that would take this spot from him.

LG - Carl Nicks

NFL: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings

Carl Nicks had a very brief six-year NFL career, four of those seasons coming in New Orleans, but he was a very solid guard over that time. During his four years with the Saints, Nicks made two Pro Bowls and was named to the All-Pro First-Team in 2011 and Second-Team in 2010. He was the starting LG for the Saints Super Bowl run as well.

C - John Hill

John Hill played 10 years for the Saints from 1974-1983 and played in 134 of 138 possible games during that span. There weren’t a ton of options here, so Hill’s longevity and health put him above the rest for me. He was elected into the Saints Hall of Fame in 1992.

RG - Jahri Evans

The best offensive guard to ever suit up for the Saints is Jahri Evans, who played in the black and gold for 11 seasons from 2006-2016. He was an absolute animal at RG and he was quite durable, playing in all 16 games in nine of his seasons in New Orleans while making six Pro Bowls and four First-Team All-Pros.

RT - Stan Brock

I could’ve (and maybe should’ve) gone with Terron Armstead here, but his injury concerns and inability to stay healthy made me go with Stan Brock. He played 13 seasons in New Orleans, and in nine of those played in every game. He only played in less than 10 games twice. He may not be in the Hall of Fame, but he was a rock for the Saints at RT for 13 years.

DE - Cam Jordan

Another very simple choice. Cam Jordan has been the heart and soul of the Saints defense for a decade now and has been nothing short of amazing off the edge. He ranks 23rd all-time in sacks and has the second most of any active player behind Von Miller. His stats have declined the last couple seasons, but he is still an elite run defender.

DE - Wayne Martin

Wayne Martin played all 11 seasons of his career for the Saints, and was an animal off the edge. He totaled 82.5 sacks in his career, and from 1992-1997, he posted five seasons of 10+ sacks. If you gave me Cam Jordan and Wayne Martin both in their prime, that pass rush would be a problem for any offensive line.

DT - La’Roi Glover

La’Roi Glover only spent five seasons in New Orleans, but boy did he put up some numbers while he was here. He averaged 10 sacks per season (including 17 in 2000) from the interior of the defensive line when he was with the Saints, which is virtually unheard of. To me, he’s far and away the best DT the Saints have ever had, even though his time in NOLA was abbreviated.

DT - Derland Moore

New Orleans Saints v Pittsburgh Steelers

Our second defensive tackle is Derland Moore, who played 13 seasons for the Saints from 1973 to 1985. In those 13 seasons, he wracked up 48 sacks and was one of the leaders of their defense. He was surprisingly never a Pro Bowler, despite an 8.0 sacks season, but he was enshrined in the Saints Hall of Fame in 1991.

LB - Rickey Jackson

One of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made is putting Rickey Jackson on this list. He is an all-time great, not just for the Saints, but for the entire NFL. He spent 13 years with the Saints, totaling 123.0 sacks and a whopping 1,104 tackles. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 after a terrific career.

LB - Pat Swilling

New Orleans Saints v San Francisco 49ers

Pat Swilling was another member of the Dome Patrol unit that headlined the Saints defense for years. He spent seven years with the Saints from 1986-1992, and in that time, he totaled 76.5 sacks (including 17.0 in 1991) and was a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time AP First-Team All-Pro and was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1991. If he had a longer career, he’d probably be in the Hall of Fame, but as it stands right now, he’s only a member of the Saints Hall of Fame.

LB - Sam Mills

The final member of the Dome Patrol unit will round out our linebacking core. Sam Mills was a nine-year player for the Saints and ranks second on the Saints all-time tackles list. He mainly left the sacks for the other two LB’s, but he posted 90+ tackles in seven seasons with New Orleans. Mills was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

CB - Marshon Lattimore

Despite their history of talented defensive lineman and linebackers, the Saints haven’t had too many all-time corners, but Marshon Lattimore is the exception. Ever since he was drafted in 2017, he’s been one of the best corners in the league. Unfortunately, injuries has dragged him down a bit in recent seasons, but when he’s on the field, nobody wants to test him.

CB - Dave Waymer

The Saints franchise leader in interceptions, Dave Waymer, makes his way onto this list next to Marshon Lattimore. In 10 seasons, Waymer totaled 37 interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. Despite some lofty numbers, he only made one Pro Bowl and was named to the AP Second-Team in 1987. He was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 1996.

S - Roman Harper

Roman Harper might not have put up huge interception numbers like a lot of safeties, but he was a leader of this Saints defense for years and was one of the best safeties to wear the black and gold. He was a two-time Pro Bowler in 2009 and 2010 and had eight tackles and a pass breakup in their Super Bowl win over the Indianapolis Colts. He was recently inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2022.

S - Tommy Myers

Tom Myers is one of the most decorated safeties in the franchise's history. He’s second in career interceptions (behind Dave Waymer) and was an absolute wrecking ball on the backend of the Saints defense. He played for 10 seasons and was enshrined in the Saints Hall of Fame in 1989.

K - Morten Andersen

New Orleans Saints v Philadelphia Eagles

Not too much to breakdown here. Morten Anderson is one of the best kickers of all-time and is the Saints leader in points scored. He made 565 of his 709 FG attempts (79.7%) and 849 of his 859 PAT’s (98.8%). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

P - Thomas Morstead

NFL: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

Not much of a decision here either. Thomas Morstead is the best punter the Saints have ever had. He spent 12 seasons in New Orleans, and in 10 of them, he averaged over 45 yards per punt, including 50+ in 2012. Once he retires, he’ll almost certainly be a Saints Hall of Famer.

Make sure you follow Canal Street Chronicles on Twitter at @SaintsCSC and “Like” us on Facebook at Canal Street Chronicles. As always, you can follow me on X @clukehubbard for all things Saints.