Featured Discussion DRAFT 2025 LIVE THREAD

Sean Payton warns teams that passed on Shedeur Sanders in NFL draft

Why doesn't SP pick him I wonder?

[keithday123]

I hope the Saints grab either Kennard or Sawyer today. I think both of them will be solid players for years in the NFL. Definite value in round 4

[saintsfan1976]

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

Sean Payton warns teams that passed on Shedeur Sanders in NFL draft

Why doesn't SP pick him I wonder?

I've read that a major point of emphasis in interviews has been determining the "love" or "want" to play football. Many NIL kids lost their drive after making millions before their 21st birthday.

I'm not accusing Sanders of this, but the optics are there. The chains, the watches, the media appearances, the draft room set up...

The new mentality can be difficult to coach and today you need a good psychologist just as much as you need good scouts and coaches.

[iceshack149]

Originally Posted by papz

Gunnar Helm, TE, UT
Cam Skattebo, RB, ASU
Miles Frazier, G, LSU

Guys that could help us in the 4th. I’m big on taking big ugly interior lineman in the mid rounds. I’m hoping we take a guard here.

I want the Saints to focus primarily on defense from now until the season starts but I wouldn't be upset if they picked Skattebo next.

[AsylumGuido]

Originally Posted by hitta

I think Shough could turn into a great NFL player, even though I have no idea why we took him in the second round. We almost certainly would’ve had other chances to get him. Maybe the upside was just too much for us to pass on. Either way, I believe he’s going to make waves. I think Dart will as well. I like Milroe too, though I think Shough and Dart will end up being better. As for Sanders, I get why we passed. There just isn't much on film that screams NFL quarterback. Most of his throws were short, quick passes—nothing that shows real anticipation or high-level traits. Nothing about him jumps off the screen to me.

"Almost certainly" doesn't cut it if he was the one they had absolutely wanted.

[TheOak]

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

Kurt Warner and Russell Wilson ? There's prolly more...

While not 26 Michael “Beerman” Lewis at the age of 30 should fit the criteria.

Starbauch was 27

A lot of age for a QB depends on what we are looking for. If we want someone like a Rothlesburger* or Newton that will get the sh1t beat out of them, then body age matters. If we are looking for a Brees where decision making matters the pre-frontal cortex (responsible for executive function) generally doesn’t reach full maturation till mid to late 20s (25-30).


Executive function= Task prioritization, decision making. When not functioning properly, it is what makes some people seem lazy.

[BakoSaint]

Originally Posted by TheOak

While not 26 Michael “Beerman” Lewis at the age of 30 should fit the criteria.

Starbauch was 27

The problem about Shough that isn't an issue with these other examples is that he is being drafted based on the tape he put in at 25yo playing against 20yo kids.

Michael Lewis doesn't count because he was just a role player. His career wouldn't justify a #40 overall pick. Had Lewis been drafted #40 overall based on the tape he could put up at 29 against college kids, that would obviously have been a mistake.

Staubach was drafted based on what he did in college up to age 21, at the time they allowed redshirt juniors to be drafted and still play their senior year. He was drafted at 22 based on his play at 21, then played another year of college, 4 years in the military, and was a rookie at 27.

Kurt Warner was an UDFA at 23yo who didn't make the team, then played 3 years in the Arena league against men his own age, improved his skills, and made the best of another shot in the NFL. He proved his worth against players his age.

Warren Moon was a similar situation with the CFL.

Russell Wilson was 23yo as NFL rookie, and was drafted in the 3rd round. He also played 4 full seasons in college and won the starting job every season except his redshirt year.

Shough is more like Weinke or Weeden. Its not that he cannot succeed. I hope he succeeds. Its that you can't totally believe what you see on tape versus kids who are 5 years younger than him. We have to get lucky. There is no tape of Shough looking like an NFL QB against players his age, the last time he faced players his age he looked mediocre. I would feel better about Shough if he had declared for the draft 3 years ago, gone undrafted, went to the CFL or XFL, etc, won rings there, and we won a bidding war for his NFL services. Sam Darnold is only 21 months older than Shough.

[BakoSaint]

Also, for what its worth, maybe by drafting Texas players in the 1st and 3rd rounds the Saints are setting themselves up to recruit Arch Manning in a future draft. Lets say that Tyler Shough has to start and gets us the #1 overall pick. We still need Arch Manning to declare for the draft knowing the Saints have that pick, and not to pull an Eli regarding telling the Saints not to draft him. Having two former top Texas teammates already on the Saints should help with that recruiting. Its more awkward to say you can't ever go there when several of your respected college teammates are already on the team, unless they say bad things about it to him of course.

And yes, I get that Arch hasn't done anything extraordinary at the college level yet, just looked pretty good in limited time. But when I factor in his age and his competition (Ewers was the #1 overall recruit in the nation two years before Manning was), his unprecedented pedigree, his high school records, his size, and his speed, I am all in on Arch at this point. If the 2026 draft were today, I would take him #1 overall.

[AsylumGuido]

Originally Posted by BakoSaint

Also, for what its worth, maybe by drafting Texas players in the 1st and 3rd rounds the Saints are setting themselves up to recruit Arch Manning in a future draft. Lets say that Tyler Shough has to start and gets us the #1 overall pick. We still need Arch Manning to declare for the draft knowing the Saints have that pick, and not to pull an Eli regarding telling the Saints not to draft him. Having two former top Texas teammates already on the Saints should help with that recruiting. Its more awkward to say you can't ever go there when several of your respected college teammates are already on the team, unless they say bad things about it to him of course.

And yes, I get that Arch hasn't done anything extraordinary at the college level yet, just looked pretty good in limited time. But when I factor in his age and his competition (Ewers was the #1 overall recruit in the nation two years before Manning was), his unprecedented pedigree, his high school records, his size, and his speed, I am all in on Arch at this point. If the 2026 draft were today, I would take him #1 overall.

Honestly, Bako, where do you come up with this goofy crap?

[BakoSaint]

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

Honestly, Bako, where do you come up with this goofy crap?

If the Saints have a top pick next year and a need at QB, and Arch is a top QB in the draft, do you think it won't be discussed that the Saints took Texas players in the 1st and 3rd this year?