Best New Orleans Saints Draft Choices From FBS Schools: Tennessee

Who is the best player the New Orleans Saints ever drafted from the Tennessee Volunteers?

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, Rice, Rutgers, San Jose St., South Alabama, South Florida, Southern Miss, TCU, and Temple, in which the Saints have never drafted a player.

Earlier, we looked at the best player that the Saints ever drafted out of Syracuse.

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

When it comes to selecting the best player the Saints ever drafted from Tennessee, the choice is limited to receiver Andy McCullough (1998), receiver Robert Meachem (2007), linebacker Marvin Mitchell (2007), quarterback Bobby Scott (1971), receiver Donte' Stallworth (2002), linebacker Alvin Toles (1985), and punter Ron Widby (1967).

The pick is going to be Meachem.

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Meachem, who was the 27th-overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft, played seven years for the Saints, during two different stints, the first from 2007-2011, and the second from 2013-2014.

The 6-foot-2, 214-pound Meachem was inactive for his entire rookie season of 2007, due to knee surgery.

In 2008, Meachem finally saw action, playing in 14 games, starting 3, while catching 12 passes for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns.

2009, the year the Saints won their first and only Super Bowl, saw Meachem have his best season, compiling 45 receptions for 722 yards and 9 touchdowns, all career highs, while averaging 16.0 yards-per-catch.

In 2010, Meachem continued to be a key contributor, hauling in 44 passes for 638 yards and 5 scores.

In 2011, his final year in his first stint in New Orleans, Meachem appeared in all 16 games, starting 8, while catching 60 passes for 620 yards and 6 touchdowns, mainly as a deep threat.

In March of 2012, Meachem signed a four-year contract with the San Diego Chargers, worth $25.5 million, including a $7.5 million signing bonus.

Things didn’t go as planned, as Meachem was a big disappointment, catching only 14 passes for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns, before being cut following the season.

The Saints resigned Meachem in 2013, and he went on to play two more seasons, compiling 23 receptions for 438 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In 6 seasons with the Saints, Meachem appeared in 88 games, including 32 as a starter accumulating 164 catches for 2,707 yards and 25 touchdowns.

In 7 seasons in the NFL, Meachem played in 103 games, including 35 games as a starter, compiling 178 receptions for 2,914 yards and 27 touchdowns.