New Orleans Saints Draft Picks Get Initial Jersey Numbers
On Wednesday, the Saints team website had all nine draft choices with a uniform number for the first time. Additionally, the uniform numbers of the team's offseason additions, along with a few veteran changes, were also included.
71 = Kelvin Banks Jr., OT (1st round)
Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) blocks Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33). Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Banks will wear the number last worn by recently retired OT Ryan Ramczyk, a first-round choice in the 2017 NFL Draft. Ramczyk had a decorated career of his own and will someday be inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame.
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Banks, who wore number 71 with the Texas Longhorns, certainly has big shoes to fill. He's also a three-time All-Conference selection, two-time All-American, and the 2024 Outland Trophy Award winner.
6 = Tyler Shough, QB (2nd round)
Louisville Cardinals quarterback Tyler Shough (9) throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images
Former Saints punter Thomas Morstead, a fan favorite, openly gave permission for Shough to wear his number 6. The number was last worn by LB Willie Gay Jr. last season.
If he wears number 6 into the regular season, Shough will become the first offensive player in Saints franchise history to don the jersey. Shough was the third quarterback selected in this year's draft. During his collegiate career, he wore number 12 at Oregon and Texas Tech and number 9 at Louisville.
91 = Vernon Broughton, DT (3rd round)
Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Vernon Broughton (45) celebrates a quarterback sack against the Ohio State Buckeyes. © Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Defensive lineman Kendal Vickers last wore 91 for New Orleans last season. Most famously worn by Saints Hall of Fame DE Will Smith, 91 has been worn by five different New Orleans players since 2021.
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Broughton wore number 45 during his Texas Longhorns career. The last notable Saint to wear 91 was DE Trey Hendrickson, from 2017 to 2020.
33 = Jonas Sanker, S (3rd round)
Virginia Cavaliers safety Jonas Sanker (20) returns an interception against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Running back Jordan Mims was the last to wear 33 for the Saints, donning it last season. The most notable New Orleans player to sport 33 was Tyrone Hughes, a Saints Hall of Fame kick returner and defensive back.
Through his collegiate career with the Virginia Cavaliers, Sanker wore number 20. The last defensive back to wear 33 for the Saints was Saquon Hampton in 2019.
47 = Danny Stutsman, LB (4th round)
Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Danny Stutsman (28) celebrates a play against the Texas Longhorn. © SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Linebacker Alex Anzalone was the last New Orleans player to wear 47 during a regular season game. Anzalone played for the Saints from 2017 to 2020.
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Stutsman wore number 28 for all four years with the Oklahoma Sooners. If he wears 47 into the regular season, Stutsman would become just the third defensive player to wear that number for the Saints since 1993.
29 = Quincy Riley, CB (4th round)
Louisville Cardinals defensive back Quincy Riley (3). Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images
New Orleans wasted no time in handing over 29 to another player. Cornerback Paulson Adebo wore the number during his Saints career from 2021 to 2024. After departing as a free agent this offseason, 29 now gets passed to Riley.
Outside of Adebo, the only other notable New Orleans players to wear 29 were running backs Chris Ivory and Khiry Robinson. Riley wore number 3 for three years with the Louisville Cardinals. Prior to that, he sported number 4 with the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders.
30 = Devin Neal, RB (6th round)
Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal (4) runs against the Baylor Bears. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Safety Roderic Teamer last wore 30 for the Saints last season. Running backs Fred McAfee (2006) and Wayne Wilson (1979-1986) were the two most notable players to wear 30 for the Saints.
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Neal wore number 4 during his four-year career with the Kansas Jayhawks. There hasn't been a New Orleans player to wear 30 for more than one year since running back Lynell Hamilton in 2008 and 2009.
80 = Moliki Matavao, TE (7th round)
UCLA Bruins tight end Moliki Matavao (88) catches a pass against the Oregon Ducks. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
The most famous 80 in New Orleans history was TE Jimmy Graham, who wore it from 2010 to 2014 then got it back when he returned in 2023. Wideouts Jerome Pathon, Wesley Carroll, and Brett Perryman also made contributions under number 80 in team history.
Matavao started his collegiate career wearing number 8 at Oregon. After transferring to UCLA, he's sported 88 for two years. Saints fans can only hope that the athletic Matavao has even close to the same success Graham's 80 had for the offense.
40 = Fadil Diggs, Edge (7th round)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Fadil Diggs (10) during a against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. © Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
One of the most famous plays in Saints franchise history was made by a 40, when FB Brian Milne recovered a fumble against the Rams to preserve the team's first ever playoff win. Cornerback Delvin Breaux, wearing number 40, also had a standout two seasons for the Saints in 2014 and 2015.
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Diggs wore number 10 throughout his college career at both Texas A&M and Syracuse. He'll be the first to wear 40 since LB Chase Hansen did it in 2022.
Uniform Numbers for Saints Offseason Additions
Dec 18, 2016; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
10 = Brandin Cooks, WR
13 = Velus Jones, RB/WR
21 = Justin Reid, S
54 = Jonah Williams, DE
74 = Dillon Radunz, G
88 = Jack Stoll, TE
91 = Davon Godchaux, DT
98 = Chris Rumph II, DE
It's also worth noting that second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler is currently listed as number 2 on the Saints website. Rattler wore number 18 as a rookie last season. Cooks gets the number 10 back that he wore when starting his career with New Orleans from 2014 to 2016.
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Related: Saints Draft Pick Tyler Shough Among Favorites For 2025 NFL Rookie Of The Year
Related: Why Saints Drafting Of Kelvin Banks Jr. Made Sense
Related: Third-Round Choice Vernon Broughton May Be Just What The Saints Needed For Their Defense
Related: Syracuse Draft Choice Fadil Diggs May Fill A Critical Role For The Saints
Related: What Kansas Draft Choice Devin Neal Adds To Saints Offense
Related: How Louisville Draft Pick Quincy Riley Fills A Saints Need
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