Best New Orleans Saints Draft Choices From FBS Schools: Notre Dame

Who is the best player the New Orleans Saints ever drafted from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish?

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, Miami (Ohio), Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Navy, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico St., Northern Illinois, and South Alabama, in which the Saints have never drafted a player.

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

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

When it comes to selecting the best player the Saints ever drafted from Notre Dame, the choice is limited to defensive back Travis Davis (1995), defensive lineman Kevin Hardy (1968), defensive back John Krimm (1982), offensive lineman Gene McGuire (1992), tight end Irv Smith (1993), offensive lineman Richard Swatland (1968), linebacker Courtney Watson (2004), defensive back Dave Waymer (1980), and fullback Ray Zellars (1995).

The pick, amongst a pretty big group, is going to be Waymer, a defensive back, who has played ten years for the Saints, from 1980-1992.

After concluding his college career at Notre Dame, Waymer was selected by the Saints in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Waymer was a 10-year starter and one-time Pro Bowler (1987) for the Saints, accumulating 37 interceptions during his time with the franchise.

After leaving the Saints following the 1989 season, Waymer played two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers and one season for the Los Angeles Raiders, his last game being played in 1992.

Sadly, Waymer died during the offseason, passing away from a heart attack caused by cocaine use in April of 1993.

Waymer, a 6-foot-1, 195-pounder, compiled 48 interceptions in 197 career NFL games.