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NFL Draft rumors: New Orleans Saints may draft successor for Drew Brees

By Brad Berreman

Jan 1, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) warms up on the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) warms up on the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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After some good fortune in the first round, the New Orleans Saints may look toward the future on Day 2 of the 2017 NFL Draft.

If head coach Sean Payton is to be believed, the Saints had Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore as the third or fourth best player in this year’s draft. So the good fortune of having him fall to No. 11 overall allowed the Saints to address a significant need without giving up draft picks to move up and do it.

The Saints have gone both ways with their most notable moves this offseason, getting an extra first-round pick in a trade for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and also adding Adrian Peterson to their running back mix. Quarterback Drew Brees has said he thinks he can play until age 45, but he is technically entering the final year of his contract and is 38 years old. So a look toward the future under center would be understandable.

According to ESPN’s Mike Triplett, the Saints view Day 2 as the strength of the draft. They currently have three picks on Friday night, No. 42 overall in the second round and two third-round picks (No. 76 and No. 103 overall), so they have the ability to add three players they’ll like without making a move.

Triplett adds that quarterback is still “in play” for the Saints heading into Friday night. Mitch Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson are gone, but DeShone Kizer, Davis Webb, Brad Kaaya, Josh Dobbs and Nathan Peterman are still available. If they particularly like one of those guys, or another quarterback prospect who represents good value, New Orleans may pull the trigger with their first pick on the second night of the draft.

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It’s unclear how Brees feels about sharing a depth chart with his anointed successor, on the public scale of Ben Roethlisberger (hates the idea) to Carson Palmer (will embrace it). I’m guessing Brees is somewhere in between, with a willingness to share his knowledge but also wanting moves made to help him win another Super Bowl.

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