New Orleans Saints: Ranking the top five first round picks in team history

Ricky Williams (1999-2011)

Rickey Williams was definitely an elite talent. He ended his career in 2011 with the Baltimore Ravens after being drafted in the first round by the New Orleans Saints in 1999.

However, Williams played the bulk of his career with the Miami Dolphins which is why he comes in at No. 5 on our all-time first-round pick’s list.

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Williams played with the New Orleans Saints from 1999 to 2001. In 2002, Williams was traded to the Miami Dolphins for four draft picks (two of which were first-rounders).

The very next season, Williams went on to run 383 times for 1,853 yards and 16 touchdowns — all the best of his career, averaging 115.8 yards per game that year.

While with Miami, Ricky Williams found his way to one Pro Bowl and one first-team All-Pro selection (2002). He totaled five seasons with over 1,000 yards rushing — two of them with the New Orleans Saints.

Williams retired in 2004 with the Miami Dolphins, returned out of retirement in 2005 then missed the 2006 season on suspension for substance abuse and then finished his tenure with the Miami Dolphins in 2010.

Ricky Williams ended his career in 2011 with the Baltimore Ravens where he ran just 108 times for 444 yards and two touchdowns.