On Tuesday night, the initial AFC and NFC rosters for the 2020 Pro Bowl were released on NFL Network.
Saints players are represented heavily, as there was a franchise-record seven players selected, second-most of any team behind the Ravens, who had 12 players selected.
Here’s a look at these seven players and how their seasons have played out so far.
Drew Brees – Quarterback – 13th Selection
Despite sitting out for five games due to a thumb injury, Drew Brees joins a group of veteran quarterbacks selected to the Pro Bowl for the NFC side. Although his numbers aren’t as high as previous seasons due to his absence, Brees has still been on point when healthy. He leads the league in completion percentage (75.8 percent) and passer rating (115.3).
Although he was not named as a starter, this is his 13th Pro Bowl selection in his 19-year career. On Dec. 16, Brees continued to cement his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game as he became the NFL’s touchdown leader.
Cameron Jordan – Defensive End – Fifth Selection (Starter)
Cam Jordan will make his fifth appearance in the Pro Bowl in 2020, a franchise record for a defensive end. Since entering the league in 2011 as a first-round selection, Jordan has been a staple in the Saints’ defense, consistently terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.
So far in 2019, Jordan has continued this trend, racking up a career-high 13.5 sacks, ranking third in the NFL. His most notable game of the season came on Thanksgiving night when he tied the club single-game record and recorded a career-high four sacks against the Falcons.
Michael Thomas – Wide Receiver – 3rd Selection (Starter)
Michael Thomas has had a superb year, and that’s an understatement. He has caught a league-leading 133 passes for 1552 yards, which also leads the league. He’s also added on eight touchdowns, one away from tying his career-high.
Thomas also eclipsed Marvin Harrison’s single-season receptions record in Sunday’s win.
Out of Ohio State University, Thomas was selected in the second round (47th overall) in the 2016 draft, but he is proving to teams that they made a big mistake passing on him. In fact, he has more catches in his first four seasons than any other receiver in NFL history.
Marshon Lattimore – Cornerback – Second Selection (Starter)
Marshon Lattimore will make his second Pro Bowl appearance in his three-year career, this time as a starter.
Since being selected 11th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Ohio State University, Lattimore has been one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks, often assigned to the opposing team’s top wideout. He is the first Saints cornerback to be selected to the Pro Bowl twice.
Lattimore has one interception on the year and is tied for the team lead with 13 passes defended.
Terron Armstead – Left Tackle – Second Selection
Terron Armstead has been a huge bargain for the Saints. Since being selected in the third round (75th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft, he’s been the anchor for the Saints’ offensive line.
This marks Armstead’s second straight Pro Bowl appearance and it is well deserved. He is a big part of a unit tied for surrendering the second-fewest sacks in the NFL, and consistently protects Brees’s blindside.
Wil Lutz – Kicker – First Selection (Starter)
Wil Lutz will represent the Saints in the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career and will be only the third Saints kicker in franchise history to do so, the last one being Morten Andersen in 1992.
Lutz is having a fantastic season in 2019, hitting a career-high 32-of-36 field goal, as well as ranking second in the league with 138 points.
Since joining the ‘Who Dat’ Nation, Lutz has been one of the most accurate kickers in franchise history, making close to 90 percent of his kicks and ranking third all-time with 539 points.
Deonte Harris – Return Specialist – First Selection (Starter)
Deonte Harris is proof that size doesn’t matter. Standing at a towering 5-foot-6 and 170 pounds, Harris has been extremely difficult to tackle this season. He ranks second in the NFL in punt return average (9.9 yards per return) and sixth in kick return average (24.7 yards per return). In the Saints’ win over Seattle, he returned a punt for a 53-yard touchdown.
A former Assumption College standout, Harris set the NCAA record with 14 career return touchdowns. He is the first undrafted Saints rookie to be selected to the Pro Bowl.
Biggest Snubs
Demario Davis – Linebacker
Since joining the Saints in 2018, Demario Davis has been undoubtedly one of the NFL’s premier outside linebackers. With 109 total tackles (86 solos), 12 pass deflections, and four sacks, Davis is having another solid campaign for the black and gold. He has done everything the Saints have asked of him, from rushing the passer to dropping back in coverage and tracking down running backs in the open field. He also ranks second in the NFC at his position with a PFF grade of 89.9.
There’s no doubt that Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack, and Shaquil Barrett deserved Pro Bowl honors, as well, but Davis may be the biggest snub from the Saints.
Ryan Ramczyk – Right Tackle
Unfortunately for pass rushers, it is quite difficult to get to Drew Brees. Not only do they have to get around Armstead, but on the other side, they face Ryan Ramczyk. Ramczyk routinely eliminates the opposing team’s best pass rusher and he has been consistently one of the best tackles in the game since being selected in the first round of the 2017 draft.
Most notably, Ramczyk silenced Shaquil Barrett, the current NFL sacks leader, in two games this season. He also ranks second among tackles with an overall grade of 88.3.
If the season goes as planned, there will be no Saints players represented in the Pro Bowl, but, remarkably, the Saints had seven players selected. This shows how talented the team is and how far they can go this season. With the recent additions of Janoris Jenkins and DJ Swearinger, the Saints bolstered their secondary depth and have shown that they believe they are real contenders to hoist the Lombardy Trophy in February.
