Draft season is all about building new pieces to a team and having as much fun possible with mock drafts. So why not take a different spin during NFL Draft season to highlight some of Louisiana’s greatest all-time picks across the board in several sports?
I’m pulling off the first ultimate Louisiana draft in the history of The Athletic.
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Other markets within The Athletic have used different parameters in this exercise over the years since most of them possess more professional teams than Louisiana. So here are the rules:
• This is an NFL-style draft, meaning it’ll be picks No. 1-32
• I’m taking the best player (in my opinion) from each selection. For example, I’m drafting the Saints’ Cam Jordan at No. 24 because that’s where New Orleans drafted him.
• My drafted players are from any Louisiana college (or high school in terms of the Major League Baseball draft) in the top 32, or they were drafted by the Saints/Pelicans/Hornets/Jazz while the franchise’s home base stood in New Orleans. For example, Chris Paul is eligible, though Larry Johnson isn’t.
• The draft selections are based on overall professional achievements, not college.
I scoured the following draft histories to gather as much of a cross-section as possible in the picks and the honorable mentions: NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA. I’m certainly not perfect. So if you think I missed on a pick, please let me know in the comments section below.
1. Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic, 1992
The candidates for the No. 1 slot are plentiful. And though the names pop off the page, no one stands a chance against Shaq.
The former LSU phenom immediately took the NBA by storm his rookie season and really never looked back. He won four NBA titles, including three NBA Finals MVP awards. He picked up the league’s MVP award in 2000, the first of three consecutive Lakers title runs. He made 15 All-Star appearances, eight All-NBA first-team honors and led the NBA in scoring average twice. He also won a gold medal on Team USA in the 1996 Olympics and has landed in every basketball Hall of Fame known to mankind.
And we’re still all wondering how Christian Laettner played on the 1992 Dream Team instead of O’Neal.
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Viable other candidates: Seimone Augustus, Terry Bradshaw, Billy Cannon, Anthony Davis, George Rodgers, Ben Simmons, Zion Williamson
(Special shoutout to former Southern baseballer Danny Goodwin, who was taken No. 1 in the MLB Draft twice — 1971 and 1975.)
2. Bob Pettit, Milwaukee Hawks, 1954
Another tough decision. But once again, it’s hard to ignore a Hall of Famer.
Another former LSU basketball standout and Baton Rouge native didn’t take long to become one of the NBA’s best. He earned the league MVP award in 1956 and 1959, and he led the league in scoring both of those seasons. He added 11 All-Star appearances (four All-Star MVPs) and 10 All-NBA first-team honors. He landed on the All-Star team every year of his professional career. Pettit is also one of only three players in league history to average 20 points and 20 rebounds in one season. The other two: Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry Lucas.
Viable other candidates: Alex Bregman, Reggie Bush, Sylvia Fowles, Bert Jones, Dub Jones, Archie Manning, J.R. Richard, Jerry Stovall
3. Pete Maravich, Atlanta Hawks, 1970
What happened to Louisiana being a football state?
Some notable names popped up at No. 3. Once again, Pistol Pete really became the no-brainer choice. The LSU legend already hit near-mythical status around Louisiana and college basketball before the Hawks selected him third. The five-time All-Star razzled and dazzled with his uncanny abilities to score, pass and dribble circles around opponents. He earned All-NBA first-team honors twice and second-team accolades twice in his 10-year career. The Hawks traded Maravich to the New Orleans Jazz in 1974. He led the NBA in scoring in 1977, but his individual accomplishments didn’t translate to overall success for the Jazz.
Viable other candidates: Tommy Mason, Johnny Robinson, Jerry Stovall, Y.A. Tittle
4. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets, 2005
He’s more than simply a State Farm spokesman. Paul became one of the best players in franchise history starting as early as Year 3. He opened by winning the league Rookie of the Year Award while the team was displaced in Oklahoma City. CP3 then came to New Orleans with a bang, finishing second in the league’s MVP voting in 2007-08 falling just short behind Kobe Bryant. He guided the Hornets to their best playoff run in New Orleans in franchise history, falling one game short of the Western Conference finals. His run in New Orleans ended tumultuously as he forced his way to the Clippers in a 2011 trade when the league actually owned the Hornets.
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Viable other candidates: Chuck Finley, Leonard Fournette
5. Steve Van Buren, Philadelphia Eagles, 1944
I originally tabbed Patrick Peterson here. Changing this pick to Van Buren is the right call, though. The former LSUer earned six All-Pro first-team nods while helping push the Eagles to consecutive NFL championships in 1948 and 1949. He led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns four times. His play also landed him on the NFL’s 75th- and 100th-anniversary teams. Pretty tough break for Peterson, who played at LSU and was one of the 2010 decade’s best NFL cornerbacks.
Viable other candidates: Devin White, Ricky Williams
6. Y.A. Tittle, Detroit Lions, 1948
Yelberton Abraham Tittle is making good use of his second chance in this draft. The Lions originally drafted the LSU legend, but the quarterback opted for the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference. San Francisco drafted Tittle once the Colts folded and joined the NFL. His career took off with the 49ers and the Giants. He earned four first-team All-Pro nods and seven Pro Bowl appearances. Tittle led the league in passing TDs three times and won the league MVP award in his second to last season (1963). He earned enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
Viable other candidates: Jamal Adams, Jim Dombrowski, LaRon Landry
7. Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies, 2014
I went back and forth on this one. I originally slated former Saints tackle Kyle Turley here. I still feel like this is a toss-up, but I figure Nola’s future career will make this pick feel safer in a couple of years. Nola, 27, has been the Phillies’ top starting pitcher for the past four seasons. The Baton Rouge native nearly won the Cy Young Award in 2018, his one year as an All-Star, finishing third behind Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. He carries a 58-40 mark with a 3.47 ERA and struck out at least 224 batters in 2018 and 2019.
8. Willis Reed, New York Knicks, 1964
It feels wrong that I have to choose among three HOF players at No. 8: Reed, Willie Roaf and Robert Parish. Reed is obviously most known for his Lazarus-like return in the 1970 NBA Finals. That season was the best of his career, and he was named the league MVP, NBA Finals MVP and All-Star game MVP. Reed, a former Grambling standout, guided the Knicks to two NBA titles, in both of which he garnered NBA Finals MVP honors. He won the league Rookie of the Year Award along with seven All-Star trips. Reed also randomly served as New Orleans’ vice president of basketball operations from 2004-2007.
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9. Will Frazier, San Francisco Warriors, 1965
There will a couple of obscure names to make the list. Count Frazier as No. 1. He’s the only person in my research to be selected ninth. Frazier, a former Grambling player, suited up for a whopping two games in the NBA. Frazier then played his next two seasons in the ABA with Houston and New York. He averaged 9.9 points in his two years in the ABA.
10. Ben Sheets, Milwaukee Brewers, 1999
The Baton Rouge native and former Louisiana-Monroe standout opened his MLB career with the first of his four All-Star appearances in 2001. He finished with a 94-96 record in his 10 years in the majors. He probably deserved better record-wise. For example, he finished the 2004 season with a 2.70 ERA and only a 12-14 mark.
Viable other candidates: Ken Burrough, James Hunter, Chris Naeole
11. Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints, 2017
Lattimore didn’t have much competition considering some of the other No. 11 picks for the Saints read like this: Alex Molden, Shawn Knight, Russell Erxleben. Regardless, Lattimore is one of the best cornerbacks to ever play for the Saints. Lattimore earned league defensive rookie of the year honors in 2017. He picked up three Pro Bowl roster spots along the way.
12. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants, 2014
I juggled the steady, long career of Stan Brock vs. OBJ. I opted for the former LSU wideout, even though it seems like his career is sliding. He had an incredible start to his professional career, with three Pro Bowl appearances in which he piled up 4,122 total receiving yards and 35 TDs. The 2014 offensive rookie of the year has fallen off from those monster statistics, even though he’s tallied two more 1,000-plus yard seasons in 2018 and 2019 in Cleveland.
13. Karl Malone, Utah Jazz, 1985
Once again, Louisiana’s underrated basketball history tops numerous Pro Bowlers and a one-time MLB All-Star. But obviously the Mailman would reign supreme over almost anyone in this entire draft. In case you need a small refresher: two league MVPs, 14 All-Star appearances, 11 All-NBA first-team honors. Oh, and the former Louisiana Tech star ranks second in all-time NBA scoring behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Way more than ’nuff said.
Viable other candidates: Jammal Brown, Mark Fields, Aaron Hill, Joe Johnson, Andrus Peat
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14. Ken Konz, Cleveland Browns, 1951
I never thought I’d debate the merits of Malcolm Jenkins and Konz, the former LSU defensive back taken by the Browns in 1951. That’s because I’d never heard of Konz. But Konz’s accolades stunned me, pushing him barely past Jenkins. Konz picked off 30 passes in his seven seasons with the Browns, including seven interceptions in 1954. He also won two NFL championships in Cleveland. Jenkins, drafted in this spot by the Saints in 2009, has 20 interceptions and two titles in his 12-year career. Close call, but I’ll give Konz his due.
15. Jim Taylor, Green Bay Packers, 1958
The former LSU running back might have been the most dominant offensive weapon in the league during a five-year span from 1960-1964 with five Pro Bowl appearances and one first-team All-Pro nod. Taylor amassed 6,069 rushing yards and 66 rushing TDs in that span. His play helped the Packers to four NFL titles within those five seasons. Taylor ended his 10-year career with one year in New Orleans. He landed in the HOF in 1976.
Viable other candidates: Vaughan Johnson
16. Frank Wills, Kansas City Royals, 1980
We enter the land of randomness once again. The former Tulane pitcher spent nine years in the majors, primarily as a reliever. He played for Kansas City, Seattle, Cleveland and Toronto. He ended with a 22-26 career record and a 5.06 ERA.
17. Doug Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1978
The former Grambling star might not have been an overall success in the NFL with a 38-42-1 mark as a starter, but he’s remembered for pushing Washington to a 42-10 throttling of Denver in Super Bowl XXII. Williams played an incredible game with 340 yards, four TDs and one interception, earning the Super Bowl MVP award.
18. Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons, 1985
Dumars, a former McNeese State star, served as one of the key members of the “Bad Boys” who won consecutive NBA titles in 1989 and 1990. His most notable play occurred in the 1989 NBA Finals when he averaged 27.3 points per game, leading to a sweep of the Lakers, and the series’ MVP award. Dumars was a six-time All-Star and a four-time NBA All-Defensive first-team member. He was inducted into the James Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and became a longtime executive for the Pistons.
Viable other candidates: Eddie Kennison, J.R. Smith, Will Smith, David West
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19. Wayne Martin, New Orleans Saints, 1989
I’ve often argued Martin is one of the most underrated Saints players in the history of the franchise. The defensive lineman was a menace to quarterbacks during 11 years in New Orleans. He piled up double-digit sacks in five of those seasons, capping it off with a 15 1/2-sack campaign in 1992. He only landed in the Pro Bowl once, though, in 1994.
Viable other candidates: Mike Fontenot
20. Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints, 2014
The speedy wide receiver may be known more for complaining about not getting the ball enough during the 2016 season, which led to his trade to the Patriots after the season. Still, he’s been a potent weapon in basically every one of his four stops (Saints, Patriots, Rams, Texans) in the NFL. He’s amassed five seasons of at least 1,082 receiving yards or more through seven years. So far, he’s caught 483 passes for 6,880 yards and 40 TDs in his career.
21. Richie Petitbon, Chicago Bears, 1959
Pettibon, a former Tulane standout and New Orleans native, terrorized opposing quarterbacks in the secondary. He picked off 48 passes in his 14-year NFL career among stays with the Bears, Rams and Washington. Petitbon landed in the Pro Bowl four times, picked up one first-team All-Pro nod in 1963 and two All-Pro second-team distinctions. He scooped up three Super Bowl rings with Washington.
22. Ken Kavanaugh, Chicago Bears, 1940
His numbers might seem pedestrian compared with today’s NFL. But the LSU product was one of the best pass catchers of the decade. He earned two trips to the Pro Bowl, three first-team All-Pro spots along with a slot on the NFL’s All-1940s team. He stepped away from the Bears after his second year to serve as an Air Force pilot in World War II. He returned in 1945 and saw a significant leap in on-field production. Kavanaugh finished his career with 162 receptions for 3,626 yards and 50 TDs.
23. Deuce McAllister, New Orleans Saints, 2001
McAllister landed with the Saints in 2001 even though the team already employed Ricky Williams. Then New Orleans jettisoned Williams to Miami allowing Deuce to become one of the most prolific offensive players in team history. He earned Pro Bowl distinctions in 2002 and 2003 when he rushed for a combined 3,000 yards and 24 total TDs. His career took a couple of unfortunate turns when he sustained season-ending knee injuries in 2005 and 2007. He ended his career as the Saints’ all-time leading rusher with 6,096 yards and 54 total TDs.
Viable other candidates: Dwayne Bowe
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24. Cam Jordan, New Orleans Saints, 2011
Jordan is still rolling strong as one of the best defensive players in Saints history. He’s been an Ironman, having never missed a game in his 10-year career. He’s piled up 94 1/2 sacks, which ranks sixth in the league for the decade. That number also has Jordan tied for second in team history behind HOFer Rickey Jackson. Jordan has made the Pro Bowl six times, first-team All-Pro once, second-team All-Pro twice and a roster spot on the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade team.
Viable other candidates: Craig Heyward
25. Alvin Dark, Philadelphia Eagles, 1945
I’m glad to use a draft loophole here. Dark, a multisport athlete at LSU, never played in the NFL despite being drafted. He signed with the Boston Braves instead, leading to a long MLB career. He won rookie of the year honors in 1948 leading to three All-Star game appearances at shortstop. He finished his career batting .289 and collecting 2,089 hits, 126 home runs and 757 RBIs. He won a World Series as a player with the New York Giants and one as the Oakland A’s manager in 1974.
Viable other candidates: Charles Grant
26. Alan Faneca, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1998
It’s the perfect time to honor the former LSU player since he’ll be enshrined in the HOF this summer. The guard racked up accolades throughout his career: six first-team All-Pros, two second-team All-Pros, nine Pro Bowl trips, a member of the NFL’s 2000 All-Decade team. He wasn’t just great. He only missed two games in his 13-year career with the Steelers (10 years), Jets and Cardinals.
27. Vida Blue, Oakland A’s, 1967
The Mansfield, La., native chose baseball over college football. Uh, good call. Blue’s biggest accomplishment came when he captured the American League MVP and Cy Young Award in 1971, which was one of his six All-Star appearances. He also helped Oakland to three consecutive World Series crowns from 1972 to 1974. Blue was also the first pitcher to start an All-Star game for each league. The left-hander ended with a record of 209-161, a 3.27 ERA and 2,175 strikeouts.
Viable other candidates: Tre’Davious White
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28. Lee Smith, Chicago Cubs, 1975
The former Northwestern State standout turned into one of the most feared closers in MLB history. The right-hander pitched for 17 seasons with his longest stint occurring with the Cubs. But he also hopped around to the Red Sox, Cardinals, Yankees, Orioles, Angels, Reds and Expos. The Baseball Hall of Famer led the league in saves in four seasons and earned seven All-Star game appearances. His 47 saves in 1991 with St. Louis pushed to a runner-up finish for the Cy Young Award. Smith ranks third all time in saves with 478.
Viable other candidates: Mark Ingram
29. Tommy Casanova, Cincinnati Bengals, 1972
His NFL career only lasted six years after being a College Football HOFer at LSU. He garnered three Pro Bowl appearances and one first-team All-Pro roster spot as a defensive back. He intercepted 17 passes in his career. Casanova returned two interceptions for TDs and a fumble recovery for a TD in 1976, leading to his All-Pro distinction. He also aided the Bengals as a punt returner, including one TD his rookie season.
Viable other candidates: Derland Moore, P.J. Brown
30. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts, 2006
The LSU product played all six of his seasons with the Colts. He opened his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, helping the Colts win the Super Bowl in 2006. He earned his one Pro Bowl trip in 2007 after compiling a combined 15 TDs. He added 13 total TDs in 2009, the year Indianapolis lost to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. Injuries derailed Addai in his final two seasons, with his career ending after the 2011 campaign.
Viable other candidates: Brad Edelman
31. Dalton Hilliard, New Orleans Saints, 1986
Hilliard, a former LSU tailback, helped his home state team become an actual playoff team. Hilliard played all eight seasons of his career in New Orleans. His best season by far came in 1989, spurring a Pro Bowl trip. He picked up almost 1,800 scrimmage yards and 18 total TDs. His 396 touches and 18 TDs led the NFL. He only played six games the following season and watched his playing time drift his final three seasons. Hilliard ended his career with nearly 6,400 scrimmage yards and 53 total TDs.
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32. Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints, 2017
The Saints right tackle has become one of the pillars of what’s been called one of the best draft classes in league history. Ramczyk turned into an immediate starter and has never looked back. He’s known as one of if not the best right tackle in the league. Somehow he’s never earned a Pro Bowl trip. And yet he’s been a first-team All-Pro and two-time second-team All-Pro tackle from 2018 to 2020.
