NFL Throwback makes their picks for Saints' Mount Rushmore (2024)

Easy call here. Brees became one of the most prolific passers in NFL history with the Saints, winning every record and award imaginable — except for MVP of the regular season, which was robbed of him in 2009 and wrongly given to Peyton Manning. Brees got the last laugh by beating Manning head-to-head and winning Super Bowl MVP. Brees is a virtual lock to be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he’s eligible in 2026.

This is an interesting pick — Jordan is the only player in the bunch who either isn’t already enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame or commonly seen as a lock to get in on his first ballot. But Jordan is the official owner of the team’s sacks record and he’s been one of the most consistent defenders of his generation. It’s great to see him receive this level of respect. For what it’s worth, at least some Hall of Fame voters view him as a “when, not if” candidate for induction.

Of course Jackson makes the cut. He was the best player on the “Dome Patrol” defenses and remains a fan-favorite decades after his playing career ended. He was also one of the first players inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame who spent the majority of his career with the Saints. Jackson is a lock for the Saints’ Mount Rushmore.

And then there’s Roaf — another easy decision. He was also enshrined at the Pro Football Hall of Fame after spending most of his career in New Orleans, and he was arguably the best left tackle in the NFL during that time. If the criteria for being included on the Saints’ Mount Rushmore is being the greatest players in team history, focusing on the Hall of Famers like this is a good start.

Mills was a late induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022, and he’s remembered fondly by two fanbases after leading the “Dome Patrol” Saints before helping the expansion-era Carolina Panthers get off the ground. When are the Saints going to put up their own statue of him?

Evans just missed the cut. He was a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist in his first year of eligibility and reached the finalist stage last time, so there’s a strong push to get him in. The Super Bowl XLIV champ was one of the league’s best offensive linemen during his long Saints career and he’s since returned to the team as a coach.

Older Saints fans still speak highly of Manning, and for good reason. He was one of the few reasons, if not the only reason, the team was competitive in the 1970s. The Saints didn’t win much with Manning under center but that was through no fault of his own. His efforts should continue to be remembered.