The New Orleans Saints are heading into the offseason with some legitimate questions surrounding quarterback Drew Brees' long-term future with the team. With that in mind, head coach Sean Payton may already have his eyes on Brees' eventual replacement in the form of Baker Mayfield, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.
Little #SeniorBowl scuttlebutt. Have heard for about a month now that #Saints coach Sean Payton is squarely in the camp of Baker Mayfield believers. That’s not going away.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) January 23, 2018
At this current juncture, the Saints hold the 27th overall pick in this year's draft, which would likely put them out of the running to have a chance to take the Oklahoma product. He is projected to be taken in the early to mid-first round. Many teams ahead of New Orleans, such as the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants, all need to address their respective quarterback situations.
Things could certainly change in that regard after free agency, but it's clear that Mayfield will be a high first-round selection in the upcoming draft. The 22-year-old is an intriguing collegiate prospect that developed into a promising quarterback in his four years at Oklahoma.
He is coming off a strong senior year where he led the nation’s most productive offense while completing 71 percent of his passes for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdown passes, earning him the Heisman Trophy award. Various scouts have touted him for his accuracy and decision-making, which many analysts believe can translate well at the next level. However, there have been a few concerns about his size and maturity that could lead to him sliding on draft night.
If the Saints do have serious interest in landing him, it will require the team to move up several selections to even have a shot. There will be more clarity on New Orleans' intentions after free agency once the team decides what they want to do with Brees, who has repeatedly made it clear he wants to return the organization next season and likely a few years beyond that.
Follow Us
Subscribe