Time nearing for Saints to draft a quarterback
 

Sounds like this guy doesn't have much faith in Chase Daniel!

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Despite the success of this year’s rookie quarterback class, drafting a ready-to-use QB remains a crapshoot. Drafting in the first round still does not, and will never, guarantee success. For every RGIII, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson, there is a JaMarcus Russell, Matt Leinart and Rex Grossman.

NFL teams moved to highlight the strengths of their signal callers this year, leading to the formerly unbelievable concept of the Read Option succeeding in the league. However, given a full season of experience and film, we can be sure that Defensive Coordinators’ schemes will adjust to counter these mind-trick offenses, just like they did with the Wildcat formation. The outcome of these adjustments remains unknown until next season.

Thus, for teams like the New Orleans Saints, the best strategy should be to select a first-or-second-round quarterback within the next year or two. Wait. What?!?! Drew Brees just signed a five-year, $100 million dollar contract. And, the Saints need help on defense NOW! may prevail as common opposition to such a belief.

However, believing any team will fix an entire side of the ball (in this case, the defense) via the draft would be a mistake. The 2012 Saints Defense suffered from systematic issues and improper personnel. Selecting four-to-six fresh hands from the college ranks may slightly improve the unit, but will not cause them to move from last in the league to top ten.

And, yes, the Saints’ primary quarterbacking interests should remain in the hands of Brees. In fact, that’s pretty much the point of drafting a quarterback. Brees was an exception to the rule that teams almost never find franchise quarterbacks via free agency. Typically, a team strikes gold in the draft and does everything in its power to retain top-level signal callers. This should be the New Orleans mindset. Who better to mentor an up-and-coming face of a franchise than the player most responsible for the Saints’ ascendancy to a perennial playoff contender?

The best current example in the league for this idea is Aaron Rodgers. Serving as Brett Favre’s backup for three years certainly did not hurt Rodgers. Perhaps he could have started sooner, but the risk of fail-by-fire decreased with every offensive snapped he watched from the sidelines. Plus, it is likely that Brees would relish the mentor role if he does not view the young candidate as a threat to his job. And Saints fans know that the only individual who could threaten Brees’s job would be a perfect combination of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers in one body.

Like it or not, the Saints need a strategy for the post-Brees era. No matter who assumes the duties, risk will be involved. The best way to limit that risk is to draft and develop. Otherwise, the dice stand a better chance of falling the wrong way.

Time nearing for Saints to draft a quarterback

Re: Time nearing for Saints to draft a quarterback
 

I totally agree with this assessment. We need to get someone in here that can be developed while Drew is still in his prime and can really show the kid something. Also, if coach P is only gonna coach 5 more years then I hope he sets us up with another great QB to move on with.

Re: Time nearing for Saints to draft a quarterback
 

Its time we draft a jewel on defense. A ricky jackson like player.

Re: Time nearing for Saints to draft a quarterback
 

I can agree with this...and it makes me think of myself growing up. I was the youngest of 4, and I have always felt that I benefited from this. I remember on Sunday having Sunday dinner and just sitting there listening and eating (mostly eating!!) Anywho...I not only learned how to do things but I also saw things in my brothers and sister that I did not want to emulate. I'm thinking a lot of this happened with A-Rog, too...possibly.I know he would say all the right things...Drew, that is...but I don't think anybody could really like seeing a team draft their eventual replacement. Kinda eerie if you ask me.

Re: Time nearing for Saints to draft a quarterback
 

If we didn't have some very, very major issues to assess on defense I would agree 100%, but unfortunately our secondary is disgusting and needs all our attention. Maybe if we do something like Denver is doing with osweller, but I wouldn't mind waiting a season.

Re: Time nearing for Saints to draft a quarterback
 

Defense. Defense. Defense.

Not this year
None of the QBs that are mocked to go first round have first round talent IMO.
Bigger needs to correct first.

Re: Time nearing for Saints to draft a quarterback
 

Try looking at it like this... Neither did Brady... With Sean Payton and Drew Brees to mentor and develop a later round draft pick it could be extremely promising.

I agree with the article... And you can not 1 draft your way out of a bad side of the ball. No one has 5 first round picks, meaning we "may" find 1 but the rest will be projects.

Re: Time nearing for Saints to draft a quarterback
 

Agreed

We need to go defense this draft, don't draft a QB for the sake of it unless you think the pick is warranted

I think it will be in the next two years that we draft a QB, even though i like chase Daniel to try and prove himself the starter, you need competitions just to get the best out of a player
Make them know they are fighting for their job and see who earns it

By year 3 of drews contract I think we will have a rookie QB waiting in the wings to take over

I don't mind picking one up in 6th maybe 5th depending on FA but not in the first two rounds with other pressing needs.
Again if the things get sorted this season with the defends then a first rounder next year fine.