Saints Players Land On 2023 AP All-Pro Teams

New Orleans Saints players earn 2023 AP All-Pro honors.

The New Orleans Saints missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year, finishing with a 9-8 record. While it was another disappointing finish, the Saints still had a few individual standouts. 

Two New Orleans Saints players were named to the 2023 Associated Press All-Pro teams. The AP announced the 1st and 2nd team All-Pro selections on Friday afternoon. 

The Associated Press All-Pro teams are decided by a panel made up of 50 national media members.

Second-year New Orleans WR Rashid Shaheed was selected as 1st Team All-Pro punt returner. Veteran Saints LB Demario Davis was one of the 2nd Team All-Pro selections at his position. Third-year CB Paulson Adebo (4 votes) was also among 14 corners to receive All-Pro votes.

Rashid Shaheed 

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY

An undrafted player out of Weber State in 2022, Shaheed was an explosive player down the stretch of his rookie season for the Saints. He was even better in his second year, catching 46 passes for 719 yards and tying for a team-high 5 touchdowns.

It was Shaheed's return skills that earned him the first Pro Bowl berth of his career last week, followed now by All-Pro accolades. He averaged 13.6 per punt return, taking one back for a 76-yard touchdown in Week 3 against Green Bay. He also averaged nearly 22 yards per kickoff return.

Shaheed averaged over 10 yards per punt return in eight different games this season. He was third in the NFL in both punt return average and punt return yardage. His ability to flip field position allowed the Saints to have an average starting field position of their own 31-yard line, the second best in the league. 

Demario Davis 

Indianapolis Colts receiver Alec Pierce (14) is tackled by New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis (56). Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Snubbed for yet another Pro Bowl bid, Davis still earned his fifth straight All-Pro honor from the Associated Press. This season, he was among the second team linebackers behind first teamers. He received 51 total votes, fourth behind Fred Warner (49ers), Roquan Smith (Ravens), and Quincy Williams (Jets).

The 35-year-old Davis joined the Saints as a free agent in 2018. He's led New Orleans in tackles for all six years with the team. He had 121 total tackles this year. It was his seventh straight season with at least 100 stops and most tackles of his tenure with the Saints. 

Davis also had 6.5 sacks, matching his career-best from last year, along with 11 QB hits, 15 pressures, and 12 tackles for loss. Additionally, Davis broke up four passes, forced one fumble, and recovered another fumble. His elite instincts, terrific anticipation, outstanding versatility, and tenacious pursuit of the ball is one of the keys to the New Orleans defense. 

Davis is one of six Saints in franchise history who have been named to at least five All-Pro teams with the team. He joins Rickey Jackson, Morten Andersen, Willie Roaf, Jahri Evans, and Drew Brees to earn the honor.