Best New Orleans Saints Draft Choices From FBS Schools: LSU

Who is the best player the New Orleans Saints ever drafted from the LSU Tigers?

From May 1 until the start of the 2016 NFL season on September 11, we’re going to list the best players that the Saints ever drafted from all 128 FBS schools, as of 2015.

Of course, there are a number of schools, including Air Force, Appalachian St., Arizona, Army, Baylor, Boise St., Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Florida, Central Michigan, East Carolina, FAU, FIU, Hawaii, ULM, and South Alabama, in which the Saints have never drafted a player.

Yesterday, we looked at the best player the Saints ever drafted from Louisville.

Today, we spotlight the best player the Saints ever drafted from LSU.

When it comes to selecting the best player the Saints ever drafted from LSU, the choice is limited to running back Hokie Gajan (1981), receiver Devery Henderson (2004), running back Dalton Hilliard (1986), receiver Eric Martin (1985), defensive back Michael Mayes (1989), running back Steve Rogers (1975), tight end Nick Savoie (1997), and defensive tackle Al Woods (2010).

The pick, with all due respect to Hilliard, is going to be Martin, a receiver, who played nine years for the Saints, from 1985-1993.

After playing his college football at LSU, Martin was selected by the Saints in the seventh round of the 1985 NFL Draft.

A native of Van Vleck, Texas, Martin made an immediate impact, compiling 35 receptions for 522 yards and 4 touchdowns in 16 games, including 11 starts, as a rookie in 1985.

The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Martin then caught a combined 71 passes for 1,453 yards and 12 touchdowns in his next two seasons, 1986-1987, before having a string of 6-consecutive seasons in which he caught at least 63 passes for at least 803 yards, including 1988, a year he was named to the Pro Bowl, after finishing with 85 catches for 1,083 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Martin left the Saints following the 1993 season and played one season with the Kansas City Chiefs, before retiring following the 1994 campaign.

In nine seasons with the Saints, Martin caught 532 passes for 7,854 yards and 48 touchdowns.

Martin ranks second in franchise history in receptions and receiving yards.

In 11 NFL seasons, Martin finished with 553 receptions for 8,161 yards and 49 touchdowns.