SmashMouth

The Saints own the 27th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, which means they won’t be taking one of the top quarterbacks, which frees coach Sean Payton to speak honestly about those prospects. And Payton isn’t overly impressed.

Payton told Peter King of SI.com that he doesn’t view any of these quarterbacks as the same kind of top-notch prospects that he thought Andrew Luck was heading into the 2012 draft, and Carson Wentz was heading into the 2016 draft.

“I don’t see Luck in this draft, and I don’t see Carson Wentz, who I liked a lot coming into the draft,” Payton said. “I’d feel a little bit uneasy if I were at the top of this draft and I decided I had to have a quarterback. The pressure to get a quarterback is so great in this league, I get that. But we can’t create ’em. I wouldn’t be surprised if only one of these guys is left standing in four or five years, and if so, I’d guess it would be Sam Darnold.”

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ScottF

Wow. Surprisingly outspoken.

Thirty3

Don't pick em....let em fall to me. Reading between lines

K Major

With the exception of Baker Mayfield, I'm not all that impressed with this QB class...especially Sam Darnold.

Euphoria

yeah that is Sean Payton speak for don't draft QB's because I want one at 27. lol.

Barry from MS

No kidding. No idea what the love for Darnold is. A turnover machine unless he cleans up a whole stinky pile of stuff.

It'll be the same QB-less teams that reach for Darnold, Rosen, Jackson, Allen, Mayfield. Mark it now: 1 probably 2 of these QBs will be available at 27. Payton is sad mouthing these guys as part of the art of draft jockeying.

WillSaints81

The fact that Payton cited Wentz and Luck says enough. High character guys. Sometimes I don't understand Payton.

jeanpierre

ScottF

In another year Rudolph and Jackson might be top 5 or top 10.

Bottom line, there are not 6 teams that need or can afford to take a QB in round 1.

Be curious to see who drops, ala Marino 1983, Rodgers 2005, and Mr. Bundchen

turbo_dog

I don't think we can take any comments as 100% honest this close to the draft. I hope he isn't planning to take any of these quarterbacks, though. I'd rather try to win another SB in the next 1-2 years with Brees, even if it means we have a few years of searching for a replacement when he retires.