New Orleans Saints select Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft
 

Full-time starter over the last two seasons and started 35 games over four seasons at Colorado State. Owns CSU passing records for yards, touchdowns, completions and completion percentage. Named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Mountain West in 2014. Invited to Senior Bowl and finished game 8-of-15 for 118 yards. In 2013, broke single-game total offense record with 455 yards against Boise State. Started first five games in 2012, but suffered broken clavicle. Was expected to grayshirt in 2011, but ended up starting three games as a freshman. At Heritage high school, was named three-time first-team All-Region and had nation's highest completion percentage as a senior (73.2). His uncle, Danny Grayson, was an All-American linebacker at Washington State and was a seventh-round pick in 1990 by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

New Orleans Saints select Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft




How do you feel about coming to New Orleans and learning under Drew Brees?

“I said all along through this whole process that New Orleans was one of my dream teams to go to for that exact reason. I want to go to a situation, as a competitor you want to come in and compete right away but I wanted to go to a place where I was going to have a spot behind, or have a good spot behind, a NFL Hall of Famer potentially. So this is honestly just a dream come true for me. I am beyond excited to be a part of the Saints organization.”

Read more: Garrett Grayson talks about getting drafted by the Saints




ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Tremendous deep-ball touch and accuracy this season. Puts air under the ball and feathers throw into consistently catchable spots for receivers. Gets feet set and uses lower body and proper weight transfer to drive the ball to his target with zip. Works to square shoulders to throw when outside of the pocket. Scouts love his toughness and improved poise in the pocket. Willing to face down oncoming rusher and take hit in order to deliver the pass. Shows confidence to challenge safeties and will attack press-man cornerbacks over the top. Production improved each season as starter. Has worked under center, in pistol and out of shotgun.

WEAKNESSES Has a small windup, which slows release. Catch-and-run touchdowns helped inflate his YPA and touchdowns this season. Tape work shows inconsistent decision-making and and a need for faster processing. Gets too locked in on his primary target. Rarely threatens defenses with feet. Lacks improvisation and ability to extend plays. Needs play to stay on schedule. Needs work on anticipation and trusting windows. Slow getting into his drops and scouts want quicker ball handling from him. Shows inconsistent accuracy on short throws into windows against zone. Will run his receivers into big collisions at times.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 4 or 5

NFL COMPARISON Landry Jones

BOTTOM LINE Grayson went from fringe draft prospect to clearly on the draft board with a strong 2014 season. Despite average arm talent, he uses good lower-body mechanics to generate velocity and his touch and accuracy on deep throws is eye-opening. Grayson needs more tape work to help improve his decision-making, but his size, production and growth at the position have ticked the requisite draft boxes to make him an intriguing mid-round prospect.

Garrett Grayson Draft Profile







The future?

Re: Garret Grayson
 

Yep. Brees has two years left on his contract and then Grayson takes over.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft
 

talented sure but a wasted pick imo. better players were on the board imo. but he is sp boy i guess collar bone and all. that is why i never talked about him. another IR roll for the saints. i should know better by know i guess

Re: New Orleans Saints select Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft
 

Initial reaction was 'hate it'
has great reviews and was rated higher than Winston and MM in some areas.
though we might steal Collins here, but this pick is growing on me

Re: New Orleans Saints select Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft
 

Re: New Orleans Saints select Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft
 

I get Andrew Luck vibes from him , with a more Rodgeresque swagger

Re: New Orleans Saints select Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft
 

The league is full of QBs that are drafted in the 1st round. Not many in the 2nd, 3rd or later round. May be a waste of a pick.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft
 

Got a friend of mine up in CO who tells me we just got one hell of a Football player.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft
 

Call 911

Re: New Orleans Saints select Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft
 

I like it. Russel Wilson was a 3rd round pick so it CAN happen. The issue of his slow release was addressed. He had an injury to play through last year and he had to adjust his throwing motion and release to combat the pain. He said it is a bad habit that can def be broken. If you look at his career prior to last year he actually has a pretty quick release. I cant think of anyone better to teach him about release than Brees and Payton. I like the pick. In fact I like the draft better than any others except maybe 06 so far. We will see how the rest pans out.

Remember that they always find a few diamonds that didnt make the draft so the UDFA crop is going to be interesting as well.