Best New Orleans Saints Draft Choices From FBS Schools: Purdue

Who is the best player the New Orleans Saints ever drafted from the Purdue Boilermakers?

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., Ohio, and South Alabama, in which the Saints have never drafted a player.

Yesterday, we looked at the best player that the Saints ever drafted out of Pittsburgh.

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

When it comes to selecting the best player the Saints ever drafted from Purdue, the choice is limited linebacker Steve Baumgartner (1973), receiver Larry Burton (1975), running back/receiver/returner Mel Gray (1984 supplemental), defensive back Michael Hawthorne (2000), offensive lineman Dave LaFary (1977), and defensive lineman Rob Ninkovich (2006).

The pick is going to be LaFary, an offensive lineman, who played 9 years for the Saints, from 1977-1985.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, LaFary attended Purdue, before being selected by the Saints in the 5th round of the 1977 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-7, 280-pound LaFary played in 10 games, all as a reserve in his rookie season, before starting 13 games at right guard in 1978.

A reserve from 1979-1981, LaFary became the starting left tackle in 1982, and held that spot for the next four years, including an injury-filled 1984 season, before retiring following the completion of the 1985 campaign.

In 9 NFL seasons, all with the Saints, LaFary appeared in 109 games, including 58 as a starter.