Until recently, the New Orleans Saints‘ history of first-round NFL Draft picks was somewhat underwhelming. Since their first draft in 1967, the Saints have only selected one player in the first round who would go on to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Let’s examine all of those first-round NFL Draft selections dating back to 1967.
The Saints’ history of first-round NFL Draft picks is one of the weaker ones around the league. But then again, New Orleans simply hasn’t been as reliant on Round 1 capital to forge their most formidable teams. Nevertheless, here’s a look at the Saints’ track record in Round 1 and how they’re trending heading out of the 2023 cycle.
New Orleans Saints First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History
Dating all the way back to the Saints’ first draft in 1967, only one first-round pick has gone on to become a Hall of Famer: Offensive tackle Willie Roaf in 1993. This isn’t all too surprising, as New Orleans was known for its mediocre position within the league through much of the 20th century.
In the 21st century, the arrival of Sean Payton and Drew Brees helped hearken in a new era of greatness for the Black and Gold — and won the Saints their first Super Bowl. In that Super Bowl season, numerous first-round picks like Malcolm Jenkins, Sedrick Ellis, Robert Meachem, Reggie Bush, Will Smith, and Charles Grant helped contribute.
2024
- Taliese Fuaga | Pick 14
OT, Oregon State
2023
- Bryan Bresee | Round 1, Pick 29
DT, Clemson
2022
- Chris Olave | Round 1, Pick 11
WR, Ohio State - Trevor Penning | Round 1, Pick 19
OT, Northern Iowa
2021
- Payton Turner | Pick 28
DE, Houston
2020
- Cesar Ruiz | Pick 24
C, Michigan
2019
The Saints traded the 30th pick to the Green Bay Packers.
2018
- Marcus Davenport | Pick 14
DE, Texas-San Antonio
2017
- Marshon Lattimore | Pick 11
CB, Ohio State - Ryan Ramczyk | Pick 32
OT, Wisconsin
2016
- Sheldon Rankins | Pick 12
DT, Louisville
2015
- Andrus Peat | Pick 13
OL, Stanford - Stephone Anthony | Pick 31
ILB, Clemson
2014
- Brandin Cooks | Pick 20
WR, Oregon State
2013
- Kenny Vaccaro | Pick 15
DB, Texas
2012
The Saints traded the 27th pick to the Cincinnati Bengals.
2011
- Cameron Jordan | Pick 24
DE, California - Mark Ingram | Pick 28
RB, Alabama
2010
- Patrick Robinson | Pick 32
DB, Florida State
2009
- Malcolm Jenkins | Pick 14
DB, Ohio State
2008
- Sedrick Ellis | Pick 7
DT, USC
2007
- Robert Meachem | Pick 27
WR, Tennessee
2006
- Reggie Bush | Pick 2
RB, USC
2005
- Jammal Brown | Pick 13
OT, Oklahoma
2004
- Will Smith | Pick 18
DE, Ohio State
2003
- Johnathan Sullivan | Pick 6
DT, Georgia
2002
- Donte’ Stallworth | Pick 13
WR, Tennessee - Charles Grant | Pick 25
DE, Georgia
2001
- Deuce McAllister | Pick 23
RB, Mississippi
2000
The Saints traded the second pick to Washington.
1999
- Ricky Williams | Pick 5
RB, Texas
1998
- Kyle Turley | Pick 7
OT, San Diego State
1997
- Chris Naeole | Pick 10
G, Colorado
1996
- Alex Molden | Pick 11
DB, Oregon
1995
- Mark Fields | Pick 13
LB, Washington State
1994
- Joe Johnson | Pick 13
DE, Louisville
1993
- Willie Roaf* | Pick 8
OT, Louisiana Tech - Irv Smith | Pick 20
TE, Notre Dame
1992
- Vaughn Dunbar | Pick 21
RB, Indiana
1991
The Saints traded the 14th pick to the Dallas Cowboys.
1990
- Renaldo Turnbull | Pick 14
DE, West Virginia
1989
- Wayne Martin | Pick 19
DE, Arkansas
1988
- Craig Heyward | Pick 24
RB, Pittsburgh
1987
- Shawn Knight | Pick 11
DE, BYU
1986
- Jim Dombrowski | Pick 6
G, Virginia
1985
- Alvin Toles | Pick 24
LB, Tennessee
1984
The Saints traded the 15th pick to the New York Jets.
1983
The Saints traded the 11th pick to the Green Bay Packers.
1982
- Lindsay Scott | Pick 13
WR, Georgia
1981
- George Rogers | Pick 1
RB, South Carolina
1980
- Stan Brock | Pick 12
OT, Colorado
1979
- Russell Erxleben | Pick 11
P, Texas
1978
- Wes Chandler | Pick 3
WR, Florida
1977
- Joe Campbell | Pick 7
DE, Maryland
1976
- Chuck Muncie | Pick 3
RB, California
1975
- Larry Burton | Pick 7
WR, Purdue - Kurt Schumacher | Pick 12
G, Ohio State
1974
- Rick Middleton | Pick 13
LB, Ohio State
1973
The Saints traded the second pick to the Baltimore Colts.
1972
- Royce Smith | Pick 8
G, Georgia
1971
- Archie Manning | Pick 2
QB, Mississippi
1970
- Ken Burrough | Pick 10
WR, Texas Southern
1969
- John Shinners | Pick 17
G, Xavier (OH)
1968
- Kevin Hardy | Pick 7
DT, Notre Dame
1967
- Les Kelley | Pick 26
LB, Alabama
*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
