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.

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