The list of all-time great New Orleans Saints offensive tackles starts with Hall of Famer Willie Roaf, but the No. 2 name on that list is equally obvious.
That distinction belongs to Terron Armstead, according to WWL Radio's Mike Detillier, with the 9-year Saints standout announcing his retirement over the NFL after three seasons with the Dolphins.
"Other than Willie Roaf, Terron Armstead was the best that has ever put on that black and gold helmet and that fleur-de-lis," Detillier said on SportsTalk. "He was a freak of an athlete and to see that guy, that size that could move like what he could. His body balance and his control, the way he used his arms and hands. He was a zero recruit, goes to Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the Saints got him in Round 3. He was such a good athlete but he turned into a terrific NFL player."
Hear the full breakdown from Mike Detillier in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
That athletic skillset was impossible to miss for the Saints ahead of the 2013 darft, with Armstead setting the NFL combine record among offensive linemen with a 4.71-second 40-yard dash. Armstead appeared in just six games in his rookie season, but took over the starting left tackle role for New Orleans the following season. Armstead started 131 games in all during his run with the Saints, one that included three Pro Bowls and an All-Pro selection.
Armstead protected Drew Brees' blind side during five playoff runs, including a stretch of four consecutive NFC South titles from 2017-'20, though none of those talented teams reached the Super Bowl. Frequent injuries were the only true drawback for Armstead, a major element in why the Saints opted to let him walk in free agency. Armstead made another two Pro Bowls during his stint with the Dolphins, but missed 13 of a possible 51 games.
"As good as a player as he was, it was to hear guys who had been in the locker room with him talk about his leadership and his work ethic and his attention to detail," Detillier continued. "That, to me, the people you work with and they talk about how much you put into this game, I think is a big testimony to Terron Armstead."
Detillier also went on to point out that he had previously put out a ranking of the NFL's top 100 players, which was based on the opinions of more than a dozen experts in various roles across the NFL. In eight of the 10 years he put the list out, Armstead was on that list.
"It goes to show you what type of football player he was to have that much respect across the National Football League," Detillier said.
