The Big Uneasy: The Saints QB Situation

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When Sean Payton stepped away from the New Orleans Saints, questions arose regarding the future of the offense. New coach Dennis Allen, by his own admission, is a defensive coach first and foremost. Under those circumstances, New Orleans needs to look at the quarterback position first. Granted, the team lacks at other positions, but everything starts with the signal-caller. Plus, with the retirement of Tom Brady, the NFC South becomes immediately winnable. As a result, picking the right quarterback could set the team up for long-term success in this division.

King Of The Hill

By their own doing, New Orleans invested twenty-one million in guaranteed money in Taysom Hill. Sean Payton really enjoyed the versatility of the former BYU standout. While versatility remains a hallmark of successful franchises, the Saints signing Hill to such a lucrative deal makes him an albatross, firmly affixed to their neck. In his defense, the team wins when Hill starts. However, without Sean Payton designing the offense, Hill’s numbers look far less impressive. For example, the 1:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio screams inconsistent, at best, not worthy of such a lucrative contest. Hill will remain a Saint, based on the amount of dead cap sitting there. So, let’s call this, Plan D, for a dead cap.

In Jameis They Trust?

Before his injury, Jameis Winston brought the Saints to a 5-2 record and threw two touchdowns per game, In what seemed like a career renaissance, Winston looked comfortable in the Payton offense. Now, how much can you attribute that to the former head coach? Winston, to his credit, can make every throw. Yet, that fifty-nine percent completion percentage sticks out like a sore thumb. Winston, right now, reached his ceiling. The Saints, especially Allen, know what he brings to the table. If the Saints want to bring Winston back as a one-year bridge to the future, that makes all the sense in the world. A low-dollar deal would benefit both sides.

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Trade

When the Broncos threw the house at Seattle to pry Russell Wilson away, they sent a message to the league. Meanwhile, the Commanders threw picks towards Indy to snare Carson Wentz. With that, two names still catch the eyes and attention in the rumor mill. First, Jimmy Garoppolo needs a home. San Francisco needs to clear the path for Trey Lance. Garoppolo wins games, but may not conjure up the idea of the man to lead the Saints back to the Super Bowl. Next, Deshaun Watson still sits in Houston, awaiting his next move. Although talented, Watson still faces an overwhelming number of charges and his legal situation remains murky. Additionally, the Texans will require a Wilson-like deal to secure him. Under those circumstances, is forfeiting most of your immediate draft future worth it?

The Rookie Route

With the eighteen overall picks, the Saints could find themselves with a trio of quarterbacks that would change the face of the franchise and firmly shut the door on the Payton Era. In Sam Howell, New Orleans would find a refined passer with an above average and accuracy to boot, with decent feet and vision. Meanwhile, Ole Miss’ Matt Corral’s blend of accuracy, moxie, and toughness could jumpstart the offense, giving the Saints a quarterback for the next seven years or so. Lastly, and certainly, most importantly, Malik Willis, of any quarterback provides the highest upside in this draft. If the Saints manage to draft Willis, the most likely path is to keep a veteran quarterback as the bridge. As mentioned, Jameis Winston could be that transition. If the Saints really want to build a younger offensive foundation, this feels like the smartest and most likely course of action.

Painful Present/Smoother Future?

Overall, the New Orleans Saints, despite a precarious cap situation and bloated contract outlook, still can field a contender. If they stick with Winston/Hill, the veterans will enjoy the continuity. However, the ceiling and ability for a deep playoff drive become almost impossible and the team would probably tread water for a couple of seasons before age and free agency took their respective tolls. In contrast, keeping a veteran to start this season, giving way to a rookie would allow Dennis Allen to carve his own path. Either way, the Saints will need to deal with Taysom Hill, giving him gadget plays and some offensive/special teams role. The future for the Saints could work, if they are willing to endure a little growing pain early.