New Orleans Saints 2010s All-Decade Team: Offense

The 2010 New Orleans Saints’ All-Decade Team is headlined by Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Marques Colston, Michael Thomas, and Terron Armstead.

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The New Orleans Saints saw a period of mostly sustained success throughout the last decade, with a few hiccups along the way during four seasons of 7-9 futility. However, the offense always maintained its dominance, as it ranked top-10 in total offense in nine of the last ten years. Even during those 7-9 seasons, New Orleans boasted an elite offense, and the efforts of Drew Brees and company were all that kept those teams competitive.

With so many key playmakers to choose from throughout the last decade, it was difficult to decide who would make the cut. Let us know what you think we got right, and what you would change.

Now, here is the offensive-side of the Saints All-Decade Team for the 2010s:

Quarterback

First team: Drew Brees

Easiest choice in the entire All-Decade team. Brees has averaged 4,677 yards passing per season this decade. Four of his five record-setting 5,000-plus yards passing seasons came in this decade, with two of them occurring during a 7-9 season, proving he had to shoulder the work.

On top of his otherworldly passing yards, Brees has been a record-breaking machine in the 2010s. During that time, Brees has 29 NFL records including all-time leader in career passing yards, all-time leader in career passing touchdowns and all-time leader in percentage completion. Now, he is looking to add one more achievement to the decade list: another Super Bowl win in Miami.

Second team: Teddy Bridgewater

Other options for the second team could have included Chase Daniel, Taysom Hill,  or Luke McCown. None of these options stepped in and helped save a season from sure disaster after Brees went down in Week 2 of the 2019 NFL season like Bridgewater did. Plus, could Bridgewater be the 2020s All-Decade first team quarterback in ten years? Stay tuned.

Running back

First team: Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara

A Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama, Ingram was selected by New Orleans in the 2011 draft. For eight seasons the running back roamed the New Orleans back field, with the 2014-18 seasons being his most productive. After Pierre Thomas’ departure from the team after the 2014 season, Ingram’s role increased dramatically. He soon posted back-to-back seasons of 1000-plus rushing yards in 2016 and 2017.

Not only was Ingram’s production a reason why he landed on this list, but also his leadership in the locker room with the younger players. Despite his veteran status, he was able to form a phenomenal relationship and friendship with current Saints running back Alvin Kamara during his rookie and sophomore campaigns. That leadership Ingram helped provide turned Kamara into one of the most feared backs in the league.

Kamara in his three seasons with the Saints has already eclipsed Thomas’ decade total with 2,408 yards of rushing, and has added another 2,068 yards of receiving. Kamara’s arrival also coincided with the resurgence of New Orleans as an annual Super Bowl contender. No coincidence there.

Second team: Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles

The second team came down to two running backs: Pierre Thomas. In the five seasons Thomas spent in New Orleans during this decade, his best season saw him rush for 562 yards in the 2011 season, and had 2,075 yards of total rushing in this decade. Couple his rushing production and his prolific role in the passing game, Thomas was just edged out by Kamara for first team honors.

Wide Receiver

First Team: Michael Thomas, Marques Colston

Since arriving in New Orleans by way of a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Thomas has set the league on fire. In all four seasons, he has recorded over 1000 receiving yards, and in three of them has had over 100 receptions. In 2019, Thomas led the league in receiving yards with 1725 yards, and set the record for most receptions in a single NFL season with 149.

The Saints offense has run through Thomas in the last four seasons like no other player in recent history. His production is possibly the best explanation for why New Orleans is in the position they are in this year despite losing Brees in Week 2.

The Quiet Storm was easily the best Saints receiver in the 2000s, and his production during the 2010s still warrants him a place on this list. Colston’s best production came when Brees had to throw the ball for 5,000 yards every single season in order to make up for the lack of a defense during the 7-9 seasons. The one advantage Colston does have over Thomas in this list is his touchdown production. However, it was not enough to claim the top spot.

Second team: Brandin Cooks, Lance Moore

Cooks is quite possibly the fastest wide receiver to ever play in the Black and Gold. The wideout played for New Orleans from 2014-2016, and during his last two seasons, he put up some solid numbers. Over three seasons, Cooks averaged over 953 yards per season, and nearly seven touchdowns.

Tight end

First team: Jimmy Graham

Graham helped revolutionize the tight end position when he arrived in New Orleans in 2010. For five years Graham was one of the most potent weapons in league, with his best being the 2011 season which ended in a heart breaker in San Francisco during the NFC Divisional Round. That year alone the tight end compiled 1310 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. His five-year stint with the Saints ended when he was shipped to the Seattle Seahawks for center Max Unger and a first-round pick.

Second team: Benjamin Watson

Tight end has been a revolving door for the Saints throughout much of the last decade. Only two names stand out that could possibly make the second team, Watson and Josh Hill. Watson wins out because in 63 games played, Watson has over 1,587 yards and 12 touchdowns. Couple those stats with his veteran leadership, and helping to reshape the locker room has helped put New Orleans back on track after some rough seasons.

Offensive tackle:

First Team: Terron Armstead, Zach Strief

Armstead has steadily been one of the best offensive linemen in Saints franchise history. Since 2013, Armstead has locked down the starting left tackle job, and was voted to a Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2019 as well as a second team All-Pro in 2018. His only downfall has been his career-long issues with injuries.

Despite never making a Pro Bowl or being named All-Pro, Strief was one the best right tackles in the NFL. While Ryan Ramczyk may soon overtake Strief as the best right tackle to ever wear the Black and Gold, the All-Decade honor deservedly belongs to Strief.

Second Team: Ryan Ramczyk, Jermon Bushrod

Ramczyk only made the second team solely due to the fact he is in his third season. In 2019, Ramczyk held the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler, Nick Bosa and Shaquil Barrett in check. If he continues his current pace, he can easily surpass anyone on this list as one of the best Saints offensive linemen of all time.

Offensive guard:

First Team: Jahri Evans, Larry Warford

Evans was drafted in 2006 in the fourth round, and surprisingly became the immediate starter that following season. As one of the best draft picks in franchise history, Evans stacked up six Pro Bowl nods, four first-team All-Pro selections (2009-2012) and second-team All-Pro in 2013. Other than the quarterback position, this was this easiest selection for the All-Decade team.

Warford joined the Saints via free agency in 2017, and instantly solidified the right guard position. A Pro Bowler in 2017 and 2018, Warford has helped propel New Orleans’ offensive line to one of the strongest and most talented in the league.

Second Team: Carl Nicks, Andrus Peat

Nicks has a case over Warford in the first team, but Warford barely edged him out in part due to superior, sustained play. Nicks was a part of the 2009 Super Bowl run, and made the Pro Bowl in 2010 and 2011. But he left the Saints in 2013 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and retired early in 2014. His contributions to New Orleans in the early part of this decade cannot be dismissed, and earned him a spot on this list.

Center

First Team: Max Unger, Brian De La Puente

Unger came to New Orleans by way of the blockbuster trade that sent Jimmy Graham to Seattle. In hindsight, this is one of the best trades New Orleans has pulled off in recent memory as Graham went on to Seattle and his decline began rapidly soon after. Unger however, would go one to become one of the best centers to ever play with Brees, and was rewarded with a Pro Bowl selection in 2018, the first of his career.

There is a huge drop off between Unger and De La Puente, but he held down the fort between the time Olin Kreutz surprisingly retired in 2011 until Unger arrived in 2015. De La Puente was there during the time Brees and the offense were shattering records, and the offensive line was potent, so that says something.

Second Team: Erik McCoy

McCoy was selected by New Orleans with their first pick in the 2019 NFL draft which came in the second round. As a rookie, he instantly took over the position from Unger, and is in the conversation for Rookie of the Year honors. His poise, maturity and skill will help him land on this list again in 2020.

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