New Orleans Saints: 5 best draft picks all-time

It was a very sad day in New Orleans on April 10th when news broke on the murder of popular former Saints defensive end Will Smith, whose live was cut tragically short by a gunshot wound following a traffic collision on April 9th.

Smith was not only a stand-up individual in the New Orleans community, but he was one of the best defensive players to have ever played for the Saints. Smith spent his entire nine-year NFL career with the Saints after being the No. 18 overall selection out of Ohio State in 2004.

Smith rarely missed NFL games, playing in all but five of a possible 144 regular season games during his career. He made the 2006 Pro Bowl team and helped New Orleans win the Super Bowl in the 2009 NFL season. Smith finished his NFL career with 459 tackles, 67.5 quarterback sacks, 25 pass deflections, and 20 forced fumbles.

Shortly before his untimely death, Smith was told that he would be inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame during the 2016 NFL season for his great football career in New Orleans. During their peak years of the Payton era, Smith was the catalyst that made everything work for their pass rush on the defensive line by playing fantastic defensive end.

Next: 3. K Morten Andersen, 1982, No. 86 overall