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A pair of New Orleans Saints Pro Bowlers got even more recognition on Monday, cracking the ESPN #NFLRank top 50 on offense and defense. Defensive end Cameron Jordan ranked 45th on the list of the league's top defensive players. Guard Jahri Evans ranked 48th on the offensive list. Both rankings seem about right to me. I'm sure a good argument could be made to bump Jordan up a little higher based on last season's performance and the fact he's just now entering his prime. But these lists are always tough, mixing rising young stars with longtime studs such as Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, who ranks 46th. The important thing is Jordan has started to gain the attention he deserves after playing a huge role in the Saints' defensive revival last season, both as a pass-rusher and relentless run defender. ESPN Stats & Information also dug up an interesting note on Jordan that further shows off his versatility. Since his rookie season in 2011, Jordan has 11 batted passes, more than twice as many as any other Saints player during that span. Evans, meanwhile, has been a mainstay on lists like these for half a decade. The five-time Pro Bowler actually dropped four spots from last year, which is probably fair since he started slow in 2013 while battling injuries. But Evans once again finished strong, playing his best in the playoffs. And he had a strong performance in his preseason debut Saturday night after missing two weeks with a minor back issue. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Evans has played 6,170 snaps during his first eight seasons, the fourth most in the NFL during that span.
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