NFL Draft: Saints can boast significant past success finding undrafted gems

One avenue of success where the New Orleans Saints have enjoyed throughout the history of the franchise has been locating and signing undrafted rookie free agents following each year’s NFL Draft. The team’s scouting department has displayed a relentless pursuit of overlooked gems that has paid dividends.

Here is a list of the best undrafted rookie free agents the Saints have ever had on their roster. If you think big names are missing (for example, La’Roi Glover and Lance Moore may come to mind), note that this list only includes players who arrived directly from college with no prior experience with any pro team.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme (1997-2002 with the Saints), out of Louisiana-Lafayette, was initially relegated to holding a clipboard in New Orleans behind Heath Shuler, Jeff Blake, Aaron Brooks, Billy Joe Hobert, and Billy Joe Tolliver, starting only two games with the Black and Gold. It wasn’t until he landed with the Carolina Panthers that his pro career flourished. Delhomme finished in Carolina with 19,258 passing yards and 120 touchdowns. He made the 2005 Pro Bowl and is a member of the Panthers’ Hall of Honor. Delhomme also completed the longest TD pass (85 yards) in Super Bowl XXXVIII, despite a close 32-29 loss to Tom Brady’s Patriots.

Quarterback Ryan Griffin (2013-’14), out of Tulane, backed up Drew Brees while in the Saints’ colors. He spent 2015-’22 with Tampa Bay, his final two seasons backing up Tom Brady in Super Bowl LV. The 6’5″, 210-pound Griffin still holds Tulane’s record for the top two single-game passing performances, with 476 yards against Rice and 466 yards against UAB, both occurring in 2012.

Running back Pierre Thomas (2007-’14), out of Illinois, is a member of the Saints Hall of Fame. He beat out fourth-round draft pick Antonio Pittman in training camp, a player the team had traded up to draft. Pierre accumulated 3,745 yards rushing with 28 touchdowns, adding 2,608 yards as a receiver on 327 catches and 12 additional scores. Thomas led the team in rushing on three occasions and was the second-leading rusher three other times. He was known as the Master of the screen pass during his NFL career.

Running back Chris Ivory (2010-’12), out of Tiffin University, led the Saints in rushing as a rookie in 2010 with 716 yards and 5 touchdowns. He made eight starts for the franchise during three seasons, producing 1,307 yards and 8 scores.

Running back Khiry Robinson (2013-’15), out of West Texas A&M, recorded 766 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns. He also returned kicks and was the team’s second-leading rusher in 2014.

Running back Tony Baker (1968-’71), out of Iowa State, amassed 1,106 yards and 2 touchdowns, earning a spot in the 1969 Pro Bowl.

Tight end Boo Williams (2001-’05), out of Arkansas, played 59 games with 20 starts, catching 107 passes for 1,143 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Tight end Josh Hill (2013-’20), out of Idaho State, played in 117 contests with 61 starts, catching 131 passes for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Tight end Juwan Johnson (2020-present), out of Oregon, has caught 96 passes for 1,074 yards and 15 scores in 50 games with 23 starts, being a big part of the Saints’ passing attack.

Wide receiver Rashid Shaheen (2022-present), out of Weber State, made the 2023 Pro Bowl as a deep threat with blistering speed. He caught 74 passes for 1,207 yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging 16.3 yards per grab. Shaheen also returned 32 kickoffs with a 22-yard average and 45 punts with an 11.8-yard average.

Wide receiver Marquez Calloway (2020-’23), out of Tennessee, caught 83 passes for 1,069 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Wide receiver/special teams Rich Mauti (1977-’83), out of Penn State, was the Saints’ Special Teams Player of the Year in 1978. In 1980, he led the NFC in kick returns, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl. Mauti had 31 special team tackles and 21 catches as a receiver. His 76 punt returns produced 610 yards, and 125 kick returns yielded 2,852 yards.

Wide receiver Keith Kirkwood (2018-’19, 2022-present), out of Temple, played 27 games with 20 catches for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Wide receiver Tommylee Lewis (2016-’20), out of Northern Illinois, returned 45 punts for 404 yards, 27 kickoffs for 617 yards and caught 21 passes for 252 yards and 2 scores. Remember, he worked his way open for Drew Brees on a crucial third down in the 2018 NFC Championship (yes, that infamous play).

Wide receiver Deonte Harty (2019-’22), out of Assumption, was a first-team All-Pro in 2019, leading the NFL in punt returns that season while catching 64 passes for 793 yards and 4 scores.

Wide receiver Tyrone Young (1983-’84), out of Florida, played 32 games with 36 catches for 682 yards and 6 touchdowns. The 6’6″, 190-pound Young was called “Ty in the Sky” as a red-zone option.

Offensive lineman Richard Cooper (1990-’95), out of Tennessee, played six seasons with 72 starts, including 12 at left tackle before shifting to the right side when Willie Roaf was inserted at left tackle.

Center James Campen (1986-’88), out of Tulane, spent 1989-’93 with the Packers, starting 47 games. He had three starts with the Saints.

Guard Calvin Throckmorton (2020-’22), out of Oregon and now with the Broncos, played 31 games with 20 starts for the Saints.

Offensive lineman Tim Lelito (2013-’16), out of Grand Valley State, played 63 games with 24 starts, capable of playing anywhere along the offensive line.

Defensive lineman Malcolm Roach (2020-’23), out of Texas, played 41 games with 5 starts, producing 90 tackles and 1 sack before moving to Denver.

Defensive lineman Elex Price (1973-’80), out of Alcorn, played 103 games with 68 starts, starting the opening game of his rookie season in ’73.

Defensive lineman Shy Tuttle (2019-’22), out of Tennessee, played 63 games with 33 starts, totaling 143 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. He was the first undrafted rookie free agent since Elex Price to start a season opener in his rookie season.

Defensive lineman Taylor Stallworth (2018-’19), out of South Carolina, played 18 games with 16 tackles and 1 sack.

Defensive end Carl Granderson (2019-present), out of Wyoming, has been a terror as an edge rusher, collecting 181 tackles and 23 sacks in 71 games with 24 starts.

Defensive end Junior Galette (2010-’14), out of Stillman, played 64 games with 30 starts, recording 128 tackles, 31.5 sacks, and 34 tackles for loss.

Defensive lineman Tyrunn Walker (2012-’14), out of Tulsa, played 23 games with 28 tackles and 3 tackles for loss.

Linebacker Nephi Sewell (2022-present), out of Nevada/Utah, played 16 games in 2023, totaling 15 stops.

Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (2008-’15), out of Boston College, played 56 games with 28 starts, recording 170 tackles and 10 tackles for loss.

Linebacker Jonathan Casillas (2009-’12), out of Wisconsin, played 38 games with 8 starts, producing 94 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks.

Linebacker Keith Mitchell (1997-2001), out of Syracuse, played 79 games, accumulating 373 tackles with 18.5 sacks and 4 interceptions, proving to be an undrafted gem.

Secondary Brett Maxie (1981-’87), out of Texas Southern, played 118 games with 72 starts, accumulating 438 tackles and 15 interceptions.

Secondary Frank Wattelet (1981-’88), out of Kansas State, played free safety for seven seasons with 98 games and 78 starts, amassing 12 interceptions.

Secondary Arthur Maulet (2017-’18), out of Memphis and a Bonnabel High School product, played 7 games with the hometown Saints. He has played in 82 total NFL games with 23 starts and is now with the Baltimore Ravens.

Secondary J.T. Gray (2018-present), out of Mississippi State, played 81 games with 78 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He was an All-Pro in 2021 and a second-team All-Pro in ’19, known for his contributions on special teams.

Secondary Ken Crawley (2016-2021), out of Colorado, played 51 games with 23 starts, totaling 132 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and a pair of interceptions.

Safety Sammy Knight (1997-2002), out of USC and a Saints Hall of Famer, played 94 games with 89 starts, collecting an impressive 570 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 28 interceptions returned for 4 touchdowns. In 1998, he recorded 6 picks; in 2000, he pilfered 5 passes.

Safety/special teams J.J. McCleskey (1993-’96), out of Tennessee, was a bundle of energy as a wide receiver, defensive back, and special teams terror, playing 8 seasons in the NFL.

Cornerback Elijah Nevett (1967-’70), out of Clark College, played 37 games with 21 starts during the Saints’ early years, recording 6 interceptions.