Which Drew Brees-era Saints players could get into the Hall of Fame?

At least one iconic former New Orleans Saints player will be watching the Pro Football Hall of Fame induct its 2021 class on Sunday night with attention — Drew Brees, the recently-retired quarterback-turned-NBC Sports broadcaster whose own eligibility will be considered in 2026. Brees arrived in 2006 along with head coach Sean Payton, ushering in the most successful period in franchise history, plus its first Super Bowl victory in 2009.

Brees’ own candidacy isn’t in doubt. He’s held every passing record anyone cares about at some point in his career and sustained his success for so long that no one can seriously question it. We’ll just have to keep an eye out for any funny business once his time is here — some of these same voters mistakenly picked Peyton Manning as the 2009 MVP over Brees while also awarding him just one All-Pro first team selection in all his years in the NFL. They’ve snubbed him before, though it’s unlikely to happen again in such a big spot.

So which of Brees’ teammates could join him with a bronze bust in Canton? Fan-favorites like Marques Colston and Thomas Morstead aren’t likely to make the cut. There are too many other deserving receivers lined up ahead of Colston like Hines Ward and Jimmy Smith, plus Torry Holt, Andre Johnson, and, annoyingly, Steve Smith. Morstead was incredibly consistent for so long in New Orleans, but punters just don’t get into the Hall of Fame — Ray Guy was the best to ever do it and he had to wait 28 years for enshrinement.

One Brees-era player with a great shot is right guard Jahri Evans, who racked up four All-Pro nods and made six Pro Bowl trips while starting a dozen years in the NFL. Evans was also recognized on the Hall of Fame’s All-Decade team for the 2010’s, which is a great indicator of his prospects. His accolades and accomplishments line up with the average Hall of Famer and that All-Decade team placement suggests plenty of voters are already in his corner. And he’s already eager to tell the world that he’s the best right guard in league history should he get voted in, starting in 2022.

There could be some murmuring in favor of Darren Sproles (who joined Evans on that All-Decade team) when his eligibility opens up in 2024, but he lacks the raw rushing production that most running backs have used to vault into the Hall of Fame. It’s worth considering that he was more effective as a receiver than as a traditional runner, but it’s a high bar for his position to earn enshrinement. I’m not convinced he’ll get in despite having put together such an impressive career.

Another name to watch is Cameron Jordan. He needs to pick up the pace after a down season in 2020, but he was a member of that 2010’s All-Decade team, too, and he’s very popular among the media voters that make these decisions. If he can claim Rickey Jackson’s franchise sacks record (Jordan has 94.5 against Jackson’s officially-recognized 115) or at least come close to it while winning a few more Pro Bowl nods, he’ll have a shot. You just have to wonder if Jordan’s career is slowing down to its inevitable stop.

Let’s not forget the prodigal son. Jimmy Graham’s career numbers nosedived after his 2015 trade away from New Orleans, but they’re still strong enough for him to get into the Hall of Fame. The average Hall of Famer has started ten years and earned three All-Pro first team spots, half a dozen Pro Bowl nods, and caught 588 receptions for 7,656 yards while scoring 52 touchdowns. Graham has won a single All-Pro first team award and made five Pro Bowls while catching 699 receptions for 8,339 yards and scoring 82 touchdowns. Unless there’s a strong push against him by voters, he should get in.

What about the next generation? Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas both started out on the right track, and Kamara’s otherworldly production on touchdown runs (he’s scored 43 in four years; the average Hall of Famer nets 86 in ten years) alone gives him a shot. To say nothing of his prolific numbers as a receiver. If he can maintain his level of play over the next five or six years, he’ll get a gold jacket someday.

Thomas is trickier. On one hand, he is one of the only two wide receiver to ever win the AP Offensive Player of the Year award, along with Jerry Rice (who did it twice). But on the other hand, between his recent injury issues and friction with the team, there’s a very real chance his career continues away from New Orleans, and at not-quite such a productive pace. Hopefully he turns things around soon to remain a playmaker in black and gold.

I’ll be curious to see where things go for Ryan Ramczyk and Terron Armstead. Armstead has been around for a longer time, but he didn’t start to receive his due credit on All-Pro voting until very recently. And while Armstead does get the Pro Bowl votes, Ramczyk got the jump on the All-Pro lists (with one first-team nod and two second-team placements). After signing a long-term extension this summer, Ramczyk might be in a better position to receive Hall of Fame enshrinement some day.

Oh, and watch out for Erik McCoy to start earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl consideration soon. Beyond being a great player in his own right, he’s going to get on everyone’s radar with a huge contract extension next summer as the pivot-point on one of the league’s best offensive lines. He has an opportunity to start winning those awards with Travis Frederick retiring, Corey Linsley moving to the AFC, and Jason Kelce approaching the end of his career. But Lions center Frank Ragnow got an early lead by earning the NFC spot on the 2020 Pro Bowl roster as well as second-team All-Pro placement behind Kelce.

So let’s see where it goes. If I’m making a way-too-early prediction (I’m not), I’d guess that Evans gets voted in for the 2022 class, while Brees joins him a few years later (conveniently right around the time New Orleans hosts its next Super Bowl, which NBC will broadcast). Colston, Morstead, and Sproles won’t get in. Graham and Jordan will get in, maybe as first-ballot entrants. Kamara and Ramczyk should, too, and Armstead and Thomas may follow after a couple years of debate. But we’re looking so far into the future for these younger stars that it’s tough to say anything in confidence. If their careers ended today they wouldn’t be certain to get in. So, remember, @OldTakesExposed: I’m not predicting anything.