Saints By Position: Top 5 offensive tackles in franchise history

One of the better positions in New Orleans Saints history is tackle, whether at left or right tackle.

There is a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, a Saints Hall of Fame inductee and several more to come.

There are many All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl participants as well.

If you want to run to the edge, you need good tackles. If you want your quarterback to be comfortable in the pocket and to have time to survey the field and make good decisions and accurate throws, you need good tackles.

Here are my top five tackles in New Orleans Saints history:

1) William Roaf
2) Terron Armstead
3) Stan Brock
4) Ryan Ramczyk
5) Jammal Brown/Kyle Turley

Simply put, William Roaf is the best tackle and best offensive lineman in New Orleans Saints history.

Roaf is one of the best left tackles in NFL history.

The eighth overall pick in the 1993 NFL Draft, Roaf was simply brilliant for New Orleans. He was a devastating run blocker and his nimble feet and long arms made him a super pass blocker on the blind side.

Roaf started all 131 games he played in with the Saints, starting all 16 games in six seasons.

The first round pick out of Louisiana Tech made the NFL All-Rookie team in 1993.

Roaf made first team All-Pro three straight times from 1994-96. He made second team All-Pro in 1997 and 2000. Roaf made the Pro Bowl seven straight seasons from 1994-2000. He made the NFL All-Decade team for the 1990’s and for the decade beginning in 2000.

Roaf started all 18 games in the 2000 season, helping the Saints to a division championship and the first playoff victory in franchise history.

Roaf was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2008. He was an inaugural inductee into the Saints Ring of Honor in 2013. Roaf was inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame (2012) and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (2009). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

When healthy, Terron Armstead is simply exceptional, one of the best left tackles in the NFL. He has never played all 16 games.

Armstead has played seven seasons with the Saints and has been part of four playoff teams, including one which went to the NFC Championship game (2018), playing in seven playoff games.

Having played 75 games with 71 starts, Armstead has made the last two Pro Bowls (2018 and 2019) and was named first team All-Pro by the Sporting News in 2018.

Armstead is a freakish athlete for his size (6-5, 304), a guy who has very quick feet and tremendous speed. Armstead has just 13 holding penalties in seven seasons, very good for a left tackle, and has 11 false start penalties. He is well on his way to being a Saints Hall of Fame inductee when his career is done.

Stan Brock was a stalwart for 13 seasons, the most of any tackle in Saints history. He played in 186 games for New Orleans, fifth all-time. Brock was a first-round draft pick in 1980 out of Colorado (12th overall) and he was more than worth it.

Brock was part of the first winning season and playoff team ever for the Saints and part of four playoff teams with New Orleans. He went on to play in a Super Bowl with San Diego.

Brock was tough and he was durable, starting all 16 games eight times in his career with the Saints. He was a team leader in his time here and a guy who would always tell you the truth about what was going on.

Brock was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 1997.

While he has only played three seasons, Ryan Ramczyk has made his mark.

Ramczyk is simply one of the very best right tackles, if not the best right tackle, in the NFL today.

He has it all, good feet, a good base, is a powerful run blocker and gets good extension with his excellent pass blocking.

The former Wisconsin standout was named to the NFL All-Rookie team in 2017 when he immediately earned a starting spot after the Saints drafted him as the final pick (No. 32) in the first round. He was a terrific pick.

Ramczyk was named second team All-Pro in 2018 and first team All-Pro in 2019.

Ramcyzk has been tough and reliable, starting all 47 games he has played in while missing just one game in his young career. Ramczyk has been one of the top two rated right tackles in the NFL in all three of his seasons by Pro Football Focus and the best run blocker in the league at his position.

Jamaal Brown made his mark in a shorter period of time, playing just four seasons with the Saints (2005-09).

Brown was a first-round draft pick (13th overall) by the Saints in 2005.

Brown became a starter in his rookie season of 2005, the most tumultuous season in franchise history, as he started 13 games. He started all 58 games he played in with the Saints from 2005-08.

Brown made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and 2008 and was named first team All-Pro in 2006. He was simply outstanding at left tackle, with Zach Strief serving as his back-up. Brown led the league in rushing average behind him in the NFL in 2006 and allowed just three sacks that season.

Brown tore his ACL and, unfortunately, missed the 2009 season when the Saints won the Super Bowl. He moved on, traded to the Redskins in 2010 as Jermon Bushrod replaced him in New Orleans.

Kyle Turley was very good in a short period of time, forming one of the best pair of tackles in the NFL with Roaf.

Turley played five seasons (1998-2002). He played guard in his rookie season, making the All-Rookie team, before moving to right tackle, starting the next four seasons. Turley played in 79 games, starting all of them. He made first team All-Pro in 2000.

Jon Stinchcomb was a good player, a second round pick in 2003 out of Georgia. It took a while for Stinchcomb to make his mark. He was a reserve his first two seasons, missed the 2005 season with a knee injury and became a starter when Sean Payton arrived in 2006 and started every game for the next five seasons.

Stinchcomb played in 90 games, starting 80 in succession in his final five seasons. Stinchcomb started all 16 games in the Super Bowl season of 2009 and made the Pro Bowl.

Zach Strief was a great team player who would play wherever needed.

Strief bided his time and finally became a starter in his sixth season in the league. Strief played in 158 games, 12th most in franchise history, starting 94. He was a starter for six years (2011-16). Strief was named second team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus in 2013.

Jermon Bushrod played in 77 games, starting 68 in seven seasons with the Saints. He was the starting left tackle in the 2009 season when the Saints made the Super Bowl and made the Pro Bowl in both 2011 and 2012.

Morrison was a seven-year starter for the Saints from 1971-77, starting at left tackle his first two years and at right tackle his final five seasons.

Others who were solid included J.T. Taylor, Dave Lafary and Richard Cooper.

Honorable Mention:

Jon Stinchcomb
Zach Strief
Jermon Bushrod
Don Morrison