Introduction

The exciting, enticing, and exhilarating National Football League began its adventure in the vast world of sports in the year of 1920. 

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post-2021 revision of our top 50 New Orleans Saints.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the New Orleans Saints failed to make the Playoffs, but there was significant activity in our Top 50, including two debuts and multiple jumps.  

As always, we present our top five, which was altered by the 2021 Season:

1. Drew Brees

2. Jahri Evans

3. Rickey Jackson

4. Willie Roaf  

5. Cameron Jordan

You can find the entire list here.

Jordan, who is a seven-time Pro Bowl at Defensive End overtook Pat Swilling to make the top five.

Running Back, and now five-time Pro Bowl Selection, Alvin Kamara, skyrocketed to the top ten at #9, from his previous slot at #20.

Offensive Lineman and three-time Pro Bowl, Terron Armstead, climbed to #32 from #35, and his fellow linemate, Ryan Ramczyk, who was injured for most of last year was only able to climb one spot to #36.

Linebacker, DeMario Davis, who is entering his fifth year with the Saints, debuts at the #40 spot.  He is a three-time All-Pro with New Orleans.

Worth noting, Mark Ingram, who returned to the Saints during the season, remained at #22, and another active Offensive Lineman, who was out for most of 2021, Andrus Peat, stayed the same at #41.

Former Defensive Rookie of the Year, Cornerback, Marshon Lattimore, makes his first appearance on our list at #42.

Tackles, Jermon Bushrod and Jammal Brown have fallen off the list.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Saints defensive players came close in their rookie season in New Orleans, including Marshon Lattimore, the former College Champion at Ohio State.  The Cornerback was the Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowler as a rookie, and while there was a touch of a sophomore slump in 2018, he went on a three-year Pro Bowl streak, giving him four in five years entering 2022.   Lattimore was hurt for most of 2022 and part of 2023 and was unable to add any accolades over those and was traded mid-season to the Washington Commanders in 2024, as the Saints slumped through the campaign.  

With the Saints, Lattimore had 15 Interceptions with 405 Tackles.

DeMario Davis began his career with the Jets, where, after four years, he signed with Cleveland only to be traded back to the Jets a year later, where he had his best season to date, resulting in a bidding war where he signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2018.

Davis remained an unheralded, yet potent interior Linebacker, and while he has only been a Pro Bowl with the Saints twice, he is on a current five-year streak where he earned All-Pro accolades (one First Team and four Second Team).  Davis kept his tackling numbers strong, continuing his run of (now seven) 100-Tackle campaigns, while being able to switch over effortlessly to pass rushing when needed.

Davis is in his mid-30s, but is playing the best football of his life.  He has 31 Sacks and 811 Tackles for New Orleans and should have a lot more left.