Best New Orleans Saints players of all-time starts with Drew Brees, and that is the easiest call in franchise history. Brees changed everything in New Orleans. He brought the Saints their first Super Bowl, rewrote the passing record book, and turned a franchise that had spent decades searching for stability into one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses.
The Saints’ all-time board is deeper than people sometimes realize. It has Dome Patrol legends, Super Bowl XLIV champions, elite offensive linemen, franchise record holders, modern defenders, all-purpose backs, and receivers who became part of New Orleans football culture. This list is not just about the Brees-Payton era, even if that era naturally owns a huge part of the story.
This ranking is based only on what each player did with the New Orleans Saints. Peak, production, longevity, awards, playoff impact, franchise records, championships, era context, and importance to Saints history all matter. The player order follows the original tier list exactly.
This is a pure tier list, not a strict 1-through-36 ranking. The tier itself is the ranking. Once players are inside the same tier, they are grouped together in the same Saints legacy range rather than ordered from best to worst.
That means Tier 1 is above Tier 2, Tier 2 is above Tier 3, and so on. Inside each tier, the player order follows the original graphic layout only.
Table of Contents
- Full Tier List Table
- How We Ranked the Best New Orleans Saints Players of All-Time
- Tier 7: Important Saints Legends and Memorable Franchise Pieces
- Tier 6: Top Saints With Strong Careers
- Tier 5: Saints Franchise Greats
- Tier 4: Great Saints With Major Cases
- Tier 3: Elite Saints Legends
- Tier 2: Inner-Circle Saints Greats
- Tier 1: Greatest New Orleans Saints Player Ever
- FAQ
- Conclusion
- More NFL All-Time Player Rankings
How We Ranked the Best New Orleans Saints Players of All-Time
This ranking weighs each player’s Saints career first. Team production, peak value, awards, records, postseason moments, longevity, championships, and era context all count. Willie Roaf has a Hall of Fame case that stretches beyond New Orleans, but his Saints years are what matter here. Alvin Kamara gets credit for what he has already built, while still leaving room for his final Saints chapter to change.
Tier 7: Important Saints Legends and Memorable Franchise Pieces

Tier 7 includes Tony Galbreath, Pierre Thomas, Andrus Peat, Wayne Martin, Jammal Brown, Kyle Turley, and Bobby Hebert.
Tier 7 is still packed with real Saints history. This group includes tough linemen, productive backs, a long-term pass rusher, a playoff-era quarterback, and players who became fan favorites because of how they fit New Orleans football.
Tony Galbreath
Saints stats/accolades: 5 seasons with New Orleans, productive dual-threat back, 1976 second-round pick, key offensive weapon of the late 1970s.
Tony Galbreath gave the Saints one of their first versatile backfield weapons. He could run, catch, and create offense during a period when New Orleans did not have many national stars.
His Saints résumé is about all-purpose value. Galbreath was a useful offensive piece before the franchise had the stability and passing structure it would later find.
Pierre Thomas
Saints stats/accolades: 8 seasons with New Orleans, 3,745 rushing yards, 2,608 receiving yards, 40 total regular-season touchdowns, Super Bowl XLIV champion.
Pierre Thomas was one of the most underrated players from the Saints’ Super Bowl window. He was tough, smart, reliable, and excellent in the screen game.
His screen touchdown in Super Bowl XLIV remains one of the biggest offensive plays in franchise history. Thomas was never the loudest name, but Drew Brees and Sean Payton trusted him in big moments.
Andrus Peat
Saints stats/accolades: 9 seasons with New Orleans, 3 Pro Bowls, 102 starts, longtime guard and tackle.
Andrus Peat is no longer with the Saints. His New Orleans chapter ended after the 2023 season, then he later played for the Raiders and signed with the Steelers in 2025.
As a Saint, Peat gave the offensive line years of starting value and positional flexibility. The highs and lows were both there, but three Pro Bowls and nearly a decade with the team make his place on the list fair.
Wayne Martin
Saints stats/accolades: 11 seasons with New Orleans, 82.5 sacks, 155 games, longtime defensive end.
Wayne Martin was one of the Saints’ best defensive linemen before Cameron Jordan took over the modern pass-rushing record book. He gave New Orleans consistent edge production through the 1990s.
His 82.5 sacks remain a major number in team history. Martin was not always surrounded by great Saints teams, but he produced for a long time.
Jammal Brown
Saints stats/accolades: 5 seasons with New Orleans, 2 Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro selection, starting left tackle during the early Drew Brees era.
Jammal Brown’s Saints run was not extremely long, but the peak was excellent. He became a strong blind-side protector just as Drew Brees and Sean Payton were changing the franchise.
His 2006 season was especially important. The Saints reached the NFC Championship Game, the offense exploded, and Brown earned First-Team All-Pro recognition.
Kyle Turley
Saints stats/accolades: 5 seasons with New Orleans, First-Team All-Pro selection, fan-favorite offensive tackle.
Kyle Turley played with exactly the kind of edge Saints fans appreciated. He was fiery, physical, and never boring.
His Saints peak included All-Pro-level tackle play, but his personality became part of the legend too. Turley’s time in New Orleans was shorter than some linemen here, but it left a mark.
Bobby Hebert
Saints stats/accolades: 7 seasons with New Orleans, 14,000+ passing yards, 85 touchdown passes, quarterback of the franchise’s first playoff-era teams.
Bobby Hebert helped quarterback the Saints through one of their first real winning windows. The Dome Patrol defenses carried the identity, but Hebert gave New Orleans enough passing stability to become a regular playoff team.
He was not Drew Brees, and nobody would confuse the two. But for his era, Hebert mattered. He helped make the Saints competitive after years of frustration.
Tier 6: Top Saints With Strong Careers

Tier 6 includes Morten Andersen, Mark Ingram, Jimmy Graham, Max Unger, Roman Harper, Will Smith, and Reggie Bush.
Tier 6 has scoring, rushing, tight end dominance, line stability, safety play, pass rush, and one of the most famous offensive weapons of the Sean Payton era. It is a very balanced Saints tier.
Morten Andersen
Saints stats/accolades: 13 seasons with New Orleans, franchise-record scoring leader, 6 Pro Bowls as a Saint, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Morten Andersen is the greatest kicker in Saints history. He gave New Orleans elite leg strength, scoring consistency, and a Hall of Fame-level special teams weapon.
Specialists can be difficult to rank against offensive and defensive stars, but Andersen’s résumé is too strong to ignore. He was one of the best kickers football has ever seen.
Mark Ingram
Saints stats/accolades: 10 Saints seasons across two stints, 6,500+ rushing yards, 50+ rushing touchdowns, multiple Pro Bowls as a Saint.
Mark Ingram was the power half of one of the best running back rooms in Saints history. He ran with physicality, caught passes when needed, and became a fan favorite because of his energy and partnership with Alvin Kamara.
Ingram is no longer an active Saints player. His Saints chapter ended after his second stint, but from a New Orleans view, he remains one of the franchise’s top running backs.
Jimmy Graham
Saints stats/accolades: 6 Saints seasons across two stints, 386+ catches, 4,700+ receiving yards, 50+ receiving touchdowns, multiple Pro Bowls as a Saint.
Jimmy Graham gave the Saints one of the most dangerous tight end stretches the franchise has ever seen. At his peak, he was almost impossible to cover near the goal line.
Graham returned to New Orleans in 2023 for a final Saints chapter, then later announced plans to retire as a Saint. His full-career legacy stretches beyond New Orleans, but his Brees-era peak belongs near any best tight ends of all-time conversation.
Max Unger
Saints stats/accolades: 4 seasons with New Orleans, Pro Bowl center, key offensive line anchor from 2015 to 2018.
Max Unger’s Saints career was shorter than some names here, but it was very important. He gave Drew Brees a smart, steady center and helped stabilize the offensive line after arriving from Seattle.
Centers can be easy to overlook, but Unger’s communication and reliability mattered. The Saints offense needed interior control, and he gave them exactly that.
Roman Harper
Saints stats/accolades: 9 Saints seasons across two stints, 2 Pro Bowls, Super Bowl XLIV champion, longtime starting safety.
Roman Harper was one of the defensive faces of the Sean Payton era. He was physical, aggressive near the line of scrimmage, and comfortable playing downhill.
Coverage critics were always part of the conversation, but Harper’s Saints impact was real. He started on the Super Bowl team and became a central piece of the defense’s personality.
Will Smith
Saints stats/accolades: 9 seasons with New Orleans, 67.5 sacks, Pro Bowl selection, Super Bowl XLIV champion.
Will Smith was one of the Saints’ best defensive ends of the 2000s. He gave New Orleans pass-rush production, edge strength, and a key veteran presence on the Super Bowl team.
Smith passed away in 2016, so his section should always be written with respect and past tense. His football legacy in New Orleans remains strong: sacks, a ring, and a major role during the franchise’s greatest season.
Reggie Bush
Saints stats/accolades: 5 seasons with New Orleans, 2,000+ rushing yards, 2,000+ receiving yards, 33 total regular-season touchdowns, Super Bowl XLIV champion.
Reggie Bush never became a traditional workhorse back in New Orleans, but he changed how defenses had to think. Sean Payton used him as a space player, receiver, decoy, return threat, and matchup weapon.
His punt return touchdown in the 2009 playoffs against Arizona is one of the most electric plays in Saints postseason history. Bush’s value was always bigger than simple rushing totals.
Tier 5: Saints Franchise Greats

Tier 5 includes Carl Nicks, Eric Martin, Vaughan Johnson, Marshon Lattimore, Deuce McAllister, and La’Roi Glover.
Tier 5 has some serious peak value. This group includes an elite guard, two major receivers, a Dome Patrol linebacker, a modern No. 1 corner, the franchise’s original great 2000s running back, and an interior pass rusher with one huge peak.
Carl Nicks
Saints stats/accolades: 4 seasons with New Orleans, 2 Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro selection, Super Bowl XLIV champion.
Carl Nicks did not spend a decade in New Orleans, but his peak was elite. He was a dominant left guard who helped make the Saints’ interior offensive line one of the best in football.
The 2009 Super Bowl team had stars everywhere, but the guard pairing of Nicks and Jahri Evans was a huge reason the offense stayed balanced. Nicks’ Saints run was short and nasty in the best way.
Eric Martin
Saints stats/accolades: 9 seasons with New Orleans, 532 catches, 7,854 receiving yards, 48 touchdowns.
Eric Martin was one of the Saints’ best receivers before the Brees era rewrote the passing record book. He gave New Orleans reliable production through the late 1980s and early 1990s.
His 7,854 receiving yards still stand as one of the strongest totals in franchise history. Martin was not just a volume receiver. He was a real offensive weapon for a team that leaned heavily on defense.
Vaughan Johnson
Saints stats/accolades: 8 seasons with New Orleans, 4 Pro Bowls, member of the Dome Patrol linebacking corps.
Vaughan Johnson brought power to the middle of the Dome Patrol. He was physical, intimidating, and a perfect fit for one of the best linebacker units the NFL has ever seen.
He did not have the same national profile as Rickey Jackson or Sam Mills, but Saints fans know the deal. Johnson was one of the reasons that defense scared people.
Marshon Lattimore
Saints stats/accolades: 8 Saints seasons, 4 Pro Bowls, 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year, longtime No. 1 cornerback.
Marshon Lattimore is no longer with the Saints. New Orleans traded him to Washington in 2024, ending his run as the team’s top cornerback of the post-Super Bowl era.
His rookie year immediately changed the secondary, and his best stretches gave the Saints the matchup corner they had been missing. Injuries and a complicated post-Saints chapter changed the ending, but Lattimore’s New Orleans peak belongs on this list.
Deuce McAllister
Saints stats/accolades: 8 seasons with New Orleans, 6,096 rushing yards, 49 rushing touchdowns, 2 Pro Bowls.
Deuce McAllister was the heart of the Saints offense before the Brees era fully exploded. He ran with size, balance, and enough receiving ability to stay useful in different game scripts.
His performance in the 2006 playoff win over Philadelphia remains one of the great Saints rushing moments. Deuce gave New Orleans real offensive credibility during the franchise’s turnaround.
La’Roi Glover
Saints stats/accolades: 5 seasons with New Orleans, 50 sacks, 2000 First-Team All-Pro selection, 17-sack season in 2000.
La’Roi Glover had one of the best defensive tackle peaks in Saints history. His 2000 season was absurd: 17 sacks from the interior and First-Team All-Pro recognition.
He did not stay in New Orleans forever, but the peak was too loud to ignore. Interior pressure like that changes games fast.
Tier 4: Great Saints With Major Cases

Tier 4 includes Michael Thomas, Archie Manning, Ryan Ramczyk, Terron Armstead, and Stan Brock.
Tier 4 has one of the best receiver peaks in franchise history, the original Saints quarterback icon, and three major offensive linemen from very different eras.
Michael Thomas
Saints stats/accolades: 8 seasons with New Orleans, 565 receptions, 6,569 receiving yards, 36 touchdowns, 2019 Offensive Player of the Year.
Michael Thomas is no longer with the Saints. New Orleans released him in 2024 after injuries had derailed what once looked like a Hall of Fame trajectory.
At his peak, though, Thomas was unstoppable. His 2019 season produced an NFL-record 149 receptions, Offensive Player of the Year honors, and one of the best possession-receiver seasons ever. The ending was frustrating, but the prime was special.
Archie Manning
Saints stats/accolades: 11 seasons with New Orleans, 21,734 passing yards, 115 touchdown passes, 2 Pro Bowls.
Archie Manning was the Saints’ first true franchise quarterback figure. The team around him was often bad, which makes his reputation more complicated than the wins and losses suggest.
Manning had mobility, toughness, and enough talent to be respected across the league despite the chaos around him. Before Drew Brees, he was the quarterback name most closely tied to Saints history.
Ryan Ramczyk
Saints stats/accolades: 7 playing seasons with New Orleans, 3 All-Pro selections, elite right tackle, key blocker for the late Drew Brees era.
Ryan Ramczyk is retired now. He missed the 2024 season because of a chronic knee issue and announced his retirement in 2025 after an excellent but shortened career.
When healthy, Ramczyk was one of the best right tackles in football. He was technically clean, powerful, and dependable enough to let the Saints build protection around him. His peak absolutely belongs on this list.
Terron Armstead
Saints stats/accolades: 9 seasons with New Orleans, 3 Pro Bowls as a Saint, Second-Team All-Pro selection, longtime left tackle for Drew Brees.
Terron Armstead is also retired now, ending his NFL career in 2025 after later playing for Miami. His Saints years remain the heart of his legacy.
Armstead was one of the smoothest left tackles of his era when healthy. Injuries were always part of the story, but the talent was obvious. He gave New Orleans premium blind-side protection during the final Brees years.
Stan Brock
Saints stats/accolades: 13 seasons with New Orleans, 180+ games, longtime offensive tackle.
Stan Brock gave the Saints long-term toughness at tackle before the franchise became a regular offensive powerhouse. He played through difficult years and still became one of the team’s most durable linemen.
Longevity matters, especially on the offensive line. Brock’s Saints career was built on staying power, physicality, and week-after-week reliability.
Tier 3: Elite Saints Legends

Tier 3 includes Alvin Kamara, Marques Colston, Pat Swilling, Sam Mills, and Joe Horn.
Tier 3 is loaded with stars who could easily start arguments for a higher spot. There is a current franchise rushing leader, the greatest Saints receiver by full-career production, two Dome Patrol legends, and the receiver who carried the offense before the Brees era.
Alvin Kamara
Saints stats/accolades: 2017–present, franchise-record 7,250 rushing yards, 61 rushing touchdowns, 606 receptions, 4,948 receiving yards, 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year, 5 Pro Bowls.
Alvin Kamara remains with New Orleans entering 2026, though his long-term future has been part of the offseason conversation. That uncertainty should not overshadow what he has already done in a Saints uniform.
Kamara is already the Saints’ all-time rushing leader, one of the best receiving backs of his era, and one of the most unique offensive weapons New Orleans has ever had. He belongs in any Saints-focused best running backs of all-time discussion.
Marques Colston
Saints stats/accolades: 10 seasons with New Orleans, franchise-record 9,759 receiving yards, franchise-record 72 receiving touchdowns, 711 receptions, Super Bowl XLIV champion.
Marques Colston is the greatest wide receiver in Saints history from a full-career production standpoint. He arrived as a seventh-round pick and immediately became Drew Brees’ most trusted big target.
Colston never got the national star treatment he deserved, partly because the Saints offense spread the ball around so well. But the record book is clear. He is the standard for Saints receivers.
Pat Swilling
Saints stats/accolades: 7 seasons with New Orleans, 76.5 sacks, 5 Pro Bowls as a Saint, 1991 Defensive Player of the Year.
Pat Swilling gave the Dome Patrol its most explosive edge-rushing weapon. He could bend, finish, and turn defensive pressure into game-changing plays.
His 1991 Defensive Player of the Year season was one of the best defensive years in Saints history. Swilling belongs in any New Orleans discussion around the best pass rushers of all-time.
Sam Mills
Saints stats/accolades: 9 seasons with New Orleans, multiple Pro Bowls as a Saint, Dome Patrol leader, Pro Football Hall of Fame full-career résumé.
Sam Mills was the brain and soul of the Dome Patrol. He was undersized, but he processed the game fast, tackled with authority, and brought leadership that teammates trusted.
His full Hall of Fame legacy includes Carolina too, but the Saints chapter was special. Mills helped turn New Orleans into one of the most feared defensive teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Joe Horn
Saints stats/accolades: 7 seasons with New Orleans, 523 receptions, 7,622 receiving yards, 50 touchdowns, 4 Pro Bowls.
Joe Horn was the Saints’ offensive personality before Drew Brees arrived. He brought production, swagger, and credibility to the passing game when New Orleans badly needed a star.
Horn’s 2004 season was huge, and his four Pro Bowls show the respect he earned during his peak. He was one of the best receivers in franchise history before the Brees era changed the numbers.
Tier 2: Inner-Circle Saints Greats

Tier 2 includes Cameron Jordan, Rickey Jackson, Jahri Evans, Demario Davis, and Willie Roaf
Tier 2 is strong enough to lead many franchise lists. It has the Saints’ sack king, the franchise’s first Hall of Famer, a Super Bowl-era guard, a modern linebacker leader, and one of the greatest tackles to ever wear black and gold.
Cameron Jordan
Saints stats/accolades: 15 seasons with New Orleans, franchise-record 132 sacks, 8 Pro Bowls, First-Team All-Pro selection, 243 games.
Cameron Jordan entered the 2026 offseason unsigned after 15 seasons in New Orleans, though a Saints return had not been completely ruled out. However the next chapter plays out, his Saints legacy is already secure.
Jordan is the franchise sack leader, one of the most durable edge defenders of his era, and one of the best defensive players in team history. He belongs in any serious best defensive players of all-time discussion from a Saints lens.
Rickey Jackson
Saints stats/accolades: 13 seasons with New Orleans, 115 sacks as a Saint, 6 Pro Bowls as a Saint, Dome Patrol cornerstone, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Rickey Jackson was the first Saints player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he earned it. He gave New Orleans elite edge play long before the franchise had consistent offensive success.
Jackson was the most dangerous member of the Dome Patrol and one of the greatest linebackers of his era. His Saints legacy is foundational.
Jahri Evans
Saints stats/accolades: 11 seasons with New Orleans, 6 Pro Bowls, 4 First-Team All-Pro selections, Super Bowl XLIV champion.
Jahri Evans was one of the best guards of his generation. He gave the Saints power, balance, and elite interior protection during the most important offensive era in franchise history.
Evans’ work with Drew Brees mattered because Brees needed clean interior throwing lanes. When people talk about why that offense worked, Evans has to be part of the answer. He belongs in any best offensive linemen of all-time debate from a Saints perspective.
Demario Davis
Saints stats/accolades: 8 seasons with New Orleans, multiple All-Pro selections, Pro Bowl linebacker, team captain every Saints season from 2018 to 2025.
Demario Davis is no longer with the Saints. After eight outstanding seasons in New Orleans, he left in 2026 and returned to the New York Jets.
His Saints chapter was incredible. Davis arrived as a veteran and became the defense’s voice, tone-setter, and most reliable linebacker. Even late in his New Orleans run, he was still playing at a high level, which made the ending feel more like a business decision than a performance collapse.
Willie Roaf
Saints stats/accolades: 9 seasons with New Orleans, 7 Pro Bowls as a Saint, multiple All-Pro selections, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Willie Roaf is one of the greatest offensive linemen in Saints history. Before Drew Brees made the franchise glamorous, Roaf gave New Orleans an elite left tackle who could stand with anybody in football.
His full Hall of Fame résumé includes Kansas City too, but the Saints years were already special. Roaf’s size, feet, and consistency made him a franchise cornerstone.
Tier 1: Greatest New Orleans Saints Player Ever

Tier 1 includes Drew Brees
Tier 1 has one name because New Orleans football has one clear mountain top. Drew Brees is not just the greatest Saint ever. He is the player who changed what the franchise could be.
Drew Brees
Saints stats/accolades: 15 seasons with New Orleans, franchise-record 68,010 passing yards, franchise-record 491 passing touchdowns, Super Bowl XLIV champion, Super Bowl XLIV MVP, 12 Pro Bowls as a Saint.
Drew Brees is the greatest New Orleans Saints player of all-time. No other Saint comes close to his combination of production, leadership, winning, and franchise transformation.
Brees took over in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina, helped revive football in New Orleans, and eventually delivered the city its first Super Bowl championship. His accuracy, volume, toughness, and playoff moments make him one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, and he belongs in every serious best quarterbacks of all-time discussion.
Full Tier List Table: Best New Orleans Saints Players of All-Time
Note: This is a tier list, not a numbered ranking. The tiers are ranked, while players inside each tier are grouped together in the same Saints legacy range rather than ordered from best to worst.
| Tier | Player | Position | Saints Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Drew Brees | QB | 2006–2020 |
| Tier 2 | Cameron Jordan | DE | 2011–2025 |
| Tier 2 | Rickey Jackson | LB/EDGE | 1981–1993 |
| Tier 2 | Jahri Evans | G | 2006–2016 |
| Tier 2 | Demario Davis | LB | 2018–2025 |
| Tier 2 | Willie Roaf | OT | 1993–2001 |
| Tier 3 | Alvin Kamara | RB | 2017–present |
| Tier 3 | Marques Colston | WR | 2006–2015 |
| Tier 3 | Pat Swilling | LB/EDGE | 1986–1992 |
| Tier 3 | Sam Mills | LB | 1986–1994 |
| Tier 3 | Joe Horn | WR | 2000–2006 |
| Tier 4 | Michael Thomas | WR | 2016–2023 |
| Tier 4 | Archie Manning | QB | 1971–1982 |
| Tier 4 | Ryan Ramczyk | OT | 2017–2024 |
| Tier 4 | Terron Armstead | OT | 2013–2021 |
| Tier 4 | Stan Brock | OT | 1980–1992 |
| Tier 5 | Carl Nicks | G | 2008–2011 |
| Tier 5 | Eric Martin | WR | 1985–1993 |
| Tier 5 | Vaughan Johnson | LB | 1986–1993 |
| Tier 5 | Marshon Lattimore | CB | 2017–2024 |
| Tier 5 | Deuce McAllister | RB | 2001–2008 |
| Tier 5 | La’Roi Glover | DT | 1997–2001 |
| Tier 6 | Morten Andersen | K | 1982–1994 |
| Tier 6 | Mark Ingram | RB | 2011–2018, 2021–2022 |
| Tier 6 | Jimmy Graham | TE | 2010–2014, 2023 |
| Tier 6 | Max Unger | C | 2015–2018 |
| Tier 6 | Roman Harper | S | 2006–2013, 2016 |
| Tier 6 | Will Smith | DE | 2004–2012 |
| Tier 6 | Reggie Bush | RB | 2006–2010 |
| Tier 7 | Tony Galbreath | RB | 1976–1980 |
| Tier 7 | Pierre Thomas | RB | 2007–2014 |
| Tier 7 | Andrus Peat | G/OT | 2015–2023 |
| Tier 7 | Wayne Martin | DE | 1989–1999 |
| Tier 7 | Jammal Brown | OT | 2005–2009 |
| Tier 7 | Kyle Turley | OT | 1998–2002 |
| Tier 7 | Bobby Hebert | QB | 1985–1992 |
FAQ: Best New Orleans Saints Players of All-Time
Who is the greatest New Orleans Saints player of all-time?
Drew Brees is the greatest New Orleans Saints player of all-time. He owns the franchise records for passing yards and passing touchdowns, won Super Bowl XLIV, earned Super Bowl MVP, and transformed the Saints into a consistent contender.
Who is the best defensive player in Saints history?
Cameron Jordan and Rickey Jackson have the strongest cases as the best defensive players in Saints history. Jordan is the franchise sack leader, while Jackson was the first Saints player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Who has the most sacks in New Orleans Saints history?
Cameron Jordan has the most sacks in New Orleans Saints history with 132 sacks.
Who is the best running back in New Orleans Saints history?
Alvin Kamara is the Saints’ all-time rushing leader and one of the franchise’s most versatile offensive players. Deuce McAllister, Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush also belong in the broader Saints running back discussion.
Who has the most rushing yards in New Orleans Saints history?
Alvin Kamara has the most rushing yards in New Orleans Saints history with 7,250 rushing yards entering 2026.
Who is the best wide receiver in Saints history?
Marques Colston is the best wide receiver in New Orleans Saints history from a full-career production standpoint. He owns the franchise records for receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Who has the most receiving yards in New Orleans Saints history?
Marques Colston has the most receiving yards in New Orleans Saints history with 9,759 receiving yards.
Where does Alvin Kamara fit among the best Saints players of all-time?
Alvin Kamara belongs in Tier 3 of this New Orleans Saints all-time tier list. His rushing record, receiving value, Pro Bowls and offensive versatility make him one of the most important skill players in franchise history.
Where does Cameron Jordan fit among the best Saints players of all-time?
Cameron Jordan belongs in Tier 2 of this New Orleans Saints all-time tier list. He is the franchise sack leader and one of the most durable, productive defensive players the team has ever had.
Which recent Saints players are included on this all-time tier list?
Recent Saints players on this tier list include Alvin Kamara, Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, Michael Thomas, Ryan Ramczyk, Terron Armstead, Marshon Lattimore, Mark Ingram, Jimmy Graham, Andrus Peat and Pierre Thomas. They are included for what they did in New Orleans.
Conclusion: Ranking the Greatest Saints Ever
The best New Orleans Saints players of all-time list starts with Drew Brees because he is the franchise’s defining player. Brees owns the records, won the Super Bowl, lifted the city, and gave New Orleans the quarterback stability it had spent decades chasing.
Behind him, the Saints have real all-time depth. Cameron Jordan is the sack king. Rickey Jackson is the first Saints Hall of Famer. Jahri Evans and Willie Roaf were elite offensive linemen. Alvin Kamara became the franchise rushing leader. Marques Colston quietly built the best receiving résumé in team history. The Dome Patrol names still carry weight, and the Super Bowl XLIV core remains the franchise’s golden era.
More NFL All-Time Player Rankings
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Staying in the NFC South, you can also read our best Atlanta Falcons players of all-time, best Carolina Panthers players of all-time and best Tampa Bay Buccaneers players of all-time lists.
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