The 2018 Draft has an interesting quarterback class. During the college football season, the class looked relatively weak, and scouts believed that the two front-runners Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen underperformed during the season -- while Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen didn't even look like an NFL prospect. We've seen guys shoot up draft boards in recent months based on need and potential. But one might ask why the quarterbacks in this draft class should go so high when just a few months ago every scout was picking them apart? The answer for Saints head coach Sean Payton is no.
No elite guy
With the draft only 10 days away, and many speculating that the Saints may try to pick the successor to Drew Brees this year, Payton dropped a bit of a bombshell. While many are speculating that the top 3 picks in the draft could all be QB's Payton doesn't necessarily think any of those guys will be good in the league. Payton told Sports Illustrated's Peter King that "I don't see [Andrew] Luck in this draft I don't see Carson Wentz who I liked a lot coming into the draft, I'd feel uneasy if I was at the top of the draft and I decided I had to have a QB." Payton went on further to say that he "wouldn't be surprised if only one of these guys is left standing in five years."
Payton's words are pretty damning when you consider his resume as a coach.
Payton is widely considered to be one of the greatest offensive minds in football history. He has helped develop Drew Brees and the Saints' offense into one of the most dominant units in the NFL. He was also involved with the St. Louis Rams during the greatest show on turf era. He was a QB coach for most of his time as an assistant head coach and is considered one of the better developers of QB talent in the league.
When he says he doesn't believe most of the guys will develop, teams might want to take note.
Saint on Draft Day
The Saints are in the market for a quarterback since Drew Brees is approaching 40, but after the comments from Payton, we can assume that they won't be taking one in the first-round this year. With the Saints likely out of the market for a QB in the first-round, they will probably turn to the defensive side of the ball and look to take a pass rusher in this draft.
While they did get a number of key contributors for the back seven of their defense in the past draft, they still don't have a pass rusher other than Cam Jordan. In fact, other than Jordan no player on their team had more than 4.5 sacks last year so they will definitely need to get him some help.
