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Former Tulane quarterback Ryan Griffin is a long shot to win the New Orleans Saints backup quarterback job this year as an undrafted free agent. But don't think for a second that the Saints are just doing the local kid a favor by inviting him to camp.

Saints coach Sean Payton said he actually expected Griffin to be drafted by another team. But if he went undrafted, the Saints had targeted him as a guy they wanted to sign for a developmental role.

And that's a role the Saints and Payton have always taken seriously.

It remains to be seen whether Griffin can become the next Tony Romo (an undrafted project who thrived under Payton with the Dallas Cowboys) or Chase Daniel (who earned the top backup job behind Drew Brees in New Orleans before signing a three-year, $10 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency).

But the Saints and Tulane coach Curtis Johnson all like Griffin's chances.

"I think No. 1, he's got arm strength, size, he's very smart," Payton said of Griffin, who measured 6 feet, 4 inches and 221 pounds at Tulane's Pro Day last month. "If this player was on the East Coast, we would have seen the workouts and evaluated him the same. But then you get to see him here (at two local workouts) and you have the connection with the coaching staff (Johnson, the longtime former Saints receivers coach, and Tulane quarterbacks coach Mike Neu, a former Saints scout). ...

"Mike Neu is someone I felt was always good at evaluating that position when he was scouting it for us. And now he's coaching him, and he's high on him. So I'm excited about him. I'm anxious to see how he does."

Read more: Sean Payton, Tulane's Curtis Johnson both excited about quarterback Ryan Griffin's potential with New Orleans Saints | NOLA.com

Crusader

I like it. He might never play much for us but he might be a guy we can trade for picks down the line. And i very much hope he is able to win the no 2 spot.

lee909

If its close between him or one of the two experienced guys for the 2/3rd QB on the roster I expect him to get it. He sounds like he has plenty of upside and if we had a 7th rounder I think he would have been drafted.Whats not to like,give him a year it two under the coaches and Drew and show him of in preseason.At worse you would hope he would be trade bait at best the future QB.

TheOak

Not sure I buy into the whole, carrying a clipboard for an elite QB makes a difference.

I think both Rodgers, and Brady were what they would be with out much tutelage from Bledsoe or Favre.... Manning had no one, Kaepernick does not seem to have benefited any from Smith, Brees beat out Flutie in camp his rookie year.

On the flip side I cant think of any QBs that greatly benefited by watching an elite QB from the sidelines.

Anyone think jake Delhomme learned how to be an NFl QB from Aaron brooks?

Rugby Saint II

Oh God no! Please don't become the next Tony Romo like the article suggested. If that is the direction he will be going then cut him now and bring back Aaron Brooks.

Seer1

Aaron who?

jeanpierre

Quick, take two aspirin and drink one (1) L of water, slowly; contact 911 and tell them you are not thinking clearly and may be having a stroke...

And I wouldn't mind having Tony Romo for a Backup...

homerj07

A LOT of Ints by this kid

QBREES9

Former Tulane quarterback Ryan Griffin is a long shot to win the New Orleans Saints backup quarterback job this year as an undrafted free agent. But don't think for a second that the Saints are just doing the local kid a favor by inviting him to camp.

He'll make the team.

Budsdrinker

My guess is he's on the PS this year and backup in 2014. He's got the size and talent and with good coaching will be a NFL starter one day. May not be with the Saints but he will be a starter in 2015.