Greatest Draft Class in Saints History?

jeanpierre · 05-04-2014, 09:29 AM

"New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints 1981

Round Pick Player Position Games Pro Bowls Misc

R02 (51) Rickey Jackson, LB, 227, 6, Hall of Famer, 128 career sacks

R01 (1) George Rogers, RB, 92, 2, Led NFL in rushing en route to Rookie of the Year

R12 (305) Jim Wilks, DE, 183, 0, Started 154 games over 13 seasons

R03 (57) Frank Warren, DE, 189, 0, Started 83 games over 14 seasons

R03 (71) Hoby Brenner, TE, 175, 1, Led Saints in receiving 1985

R06 (144) Johnnie Poe, CB, 100, 0, Started 90 games over 7 seasons

R02 (29) Russell Gary, S, 80, 0, 4-year starter in New Orleans

R10 (249) Hokie Gajan, RB, 45, 0, Averaged 5.4 YPC over 4 seasons with Saints

The 2006 class featuring Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, Jahri Evans and Roman Harper helped revitalize New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but the 1981 haul is a sneaky pick as one of the must fruitful in NFL history.

Second-round pick Rickey Jackson became the Saints' first Hall of Fame selection after racking up 128 sacks as the most decorated of the No. 1 linebacker corps of all time.

Early in his career, Jackson was outshined by first overall pick George Rogers, who set an NFL rookie record with 1,674 rushing yards. Rogers' running ability is credited with revitalizing a moribund franchise.

The defensive-end duo of Frank Warren and Jim Wilks contributed 98 sacks while playing more than a dozen seasons each in the Big Easy. The '83 draft also produced a 12-year starter at tight end (Hoby Brenner), six-year starter at cornerback (Johnnie Poe), a four-year starter at safety (Russell Gary) and a change-of-pace back with a career average of 5.4 yards per carry (Hokie Gajan).

Fun fact: You know that Mike Ditka parted with the Saints' entire 1998 draft for the opportunity to grab Ricky Williams. But did you know Bengals owner Mike Brown' rejected Ditka's offer of six 1999 draft picks plus two more first-round picks and a second-rounder because he couldn't pass up Akili Smith?"

Source: Every NFC team's best draft class in history - NFL.com

The 2014 NFL Draft could easily be ten (10) rounds...

And if there's any doubt that NFL.com hates on the Saints is calling that factoid a "fun fact" - exactly fun for who rassroles?!?

05-04-2014, 09:29 AM	#1
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Greatest Draft Class in Saints History? "New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints 1981 Round Pick Player Position Games Pro Bowls Misc R02 (51) Rickey Jackson, LB, 227, 6, Hall of Famer, 128 career sacks R01 (1) George Rogers, RB, 92, 2, Led NFL in rushing en route to Rookie of the Year R12 (305) Jim Wilks, DE, 183, 0, Started 154 games over 13 seasons R03 (57) Frank Warren, DE, 189, 0, Started 83 games over 14 seasons R03 (71) Hoby Brenner, TE, 175, 1, Led Saints in receiving 1985 R06 (144) Johnnie Poe, CB, 100, 0, Started 90 games over 7 seasons R02 (29) Russell Gary, S, 80, 0, 4-year starter in New Orleans R10 (249) Hokie Gajan, RB, 45, 0, Averaged 5.4 YPC over 4 seasons with Saints The 2006 class featuring Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, Jahri Evans and Roman Harper helped revitalize New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but the 1981 haul is a sneaky pick as one of the must fruitful in NFL history. Second-round pick Rickey Jackson became the Saints' first Hall of Fame selection after racking up 128 sacks as the most decorated of the No. 1 linebacker corps of all time. Early in his career, Jackson was outshined by first overall pick George Rogers, who set an NFL rookie record with 1,674 rushing yards. Rogers' running ability is credited with revitalizing a moribund franchise. The defensive-end duo of Frank Warren and Jim Wilks contributed 98 sacks while playing more than a dozen seasons each in the Big Easy. The '83 draft also produced a 12-year starter at tight end (Hoby Brenner), six-year starter at cornerback (Johnnie Poe), a four-year starter at safety (Russell Gary) and a change-of-pace back with a career average of 5.4 yards per carry (Hokie Gajan). Fun fact: You know that Mike Ditka parted with the Saints' entire 1998 draft for the opportunity to grab Ricky Williams. But did you know Bengals owner Mike Brown' rejected Ditka's offer of six 1999 draft picks plus two more first-round picks and a second-rounder because he couldn't pass up Akili Smith?" Source: Every NFC team's best draft class in history - NFL.com The 2014 NFL Draft could easily be ten (10) rounds... And if there's any doubt that NFL.com hates on the Saints is calling that factoid a "fun fact" - exactly fun for who rassroles?!? Crusader, hagan714, Utah_Saint and 1 others like this.
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way... Last edited by jeanpierre; 05-05-2014 at 05:13 AM..

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