The Associated Press’ All-Pro Teams were announced on Friday and two New Orleans Saints were named to the rosters.
Wide receiver and return specialist Rashid Shaheed made it onto the 1st team while veteran linebacker Demario Davis was placed on the 2nd team. Davis also became the second member of the Black and Gold to be selected All-Pro in five consecutive seasons. The other was former Saints guard and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist Jahri Evans when he made the teams from 2009-2013. The news also marked the seventh straight season that the organization has produced at least one All-Pro player.
Shaheed joined the team following the 2022 draft as an undrafted free agent out of Weber State. The 25-year-old finished the 2023 season ranked second in the NFC and third in the NFL in punt return average of 13.6 yards and was selected as a Pro Bowl starter as a return specialist. He brought back 25 punts for 339 yards with a 76-yard touchdown and returned 18 kickoffs for 384 yards, good for an average of 21.3 yards.
On offense, Shaheed was a guy that quarterback Derek Carr went to for longer developing routes as he recorded 46 catches for 719 yards (15.6 avg) with five touchdowns and carried the ball seven times for 37 yards for 1,479 all-purpose yards, ranked tenth in the NFL. On September 24th, Shaheed took the third-longest punt return to the house against the Green Bay Packers.
In two seasons with New Orleans, Shaheed has returned 45 punts for 532 yards and a touchdown. The 11.8 punt return average is ranked third in franchise record books. Shaheed has also returned 32 kickoffs for 704 yards (22.0 avg.), caught 74 passes for 1,207 yards (16.3 avg.) with seven touchdowns, and carried 11 times for 94 yards (8.5 avg.) with a 44-yard touchdown during his rookie season.
Davis is a 12-year veteran who signed with the Black and Gold back in the Spring of 2018 and has played like one of the best linebackers in the league since. To add to Davis joining Evans in making five straight All-Pro teams, the 34-year-old out of Arkansas State is accompanied by Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker Morten Anderson, quarterback Drew Brees, Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Rickey Jackson, and Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle Willie Roaf as the sixth Saint to be selected at least five times overall.
In 2023, Davis led the team in tackles for the sixth time with 121 (74 solos) 6.5 sacks to tie his 2022 career-high, four passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. The six-time team captain also became only the second Saint, joining Joe Federspiel (1975-80) to have over 100 tackles in six consecutive seasons.
Davis started his NFL career as a third-round selection by the New York Jets in the 2012 draft. The Brandon, Mississippi native has played in 194 career games with 180 starts and has recorded 1,335 tackles (860 solos), 42.5 sacks, three interceptions, 55 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and eight fumble recoveries as one of only three active players with at least 1,300 career stops. Since becoming a member of the Black and Gold, Davis has played in and started 98 games, recording 675 stops (431 solos), 29 sacks, two interceptions, 38 passes defended, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
Other players who received votes to the All-Pro teams were cornerback Paulson Adebo, defensive back J.T. Gray, and long snapper Zach Wood.