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3 mistakes Saints made in NFL Draft this year

By Cole Thompson

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "ON THE CLOCK" for the New Orleans Saints during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays the text "ON THE CLOCK" for the New Orleans Saints during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images /

While the New Orleans Saints might be a contender for 2021, their draft mistakes could cost them past 2021. 

Life without a franchise quarterback is tough. For the New Orleans Saints, it could be the final curtain call for the franchise looking to remain ahead in the NFC South.

Drew Brees has hung up his cleats, and with that, the Saints are hoping one season with Jameis Winston learning the offense can be the X-factor to keep them afloat. Teams live and die by the quarterback position, and the NFC South is loaded under center.

Matt Ryan? Tom Brady? Heck, even Sam Darnold-post Adam Gase all might be better option than this former No. 1 at this point. With that in mind, the Saints built around Winston via the NFL Draft. Of course, only time will tell if the recent draft class will be successful.

Here are three mistakes the Saints made during picks  Nos. 1-259.

3. Drafting Notre Dame’s Ian Book in Round 4

When you think about it, adding a quarterback into the conversation certainly was worth a risk for Sean Payton on draft day. Taysom Hill still is much of an unknown as a starter and Winston needs to prove he can continue to evolve in Pete Carmichael’s system.

On paper, Book actually fits the style of offense that is expected to be ran in the bayou. The problem, though, is where he was selected.

Coming off as the all-time leader in wins for Notre Dame, Book has shown the alpha mentality it takes to lead an offense. On top of that, he’s highly respected for his locker-room presence and ability to extend plays outside the three-step drop back. Much like way a quarterback drop backs after a snap, so did the talent at the position.

Round 4 is a bit too rich for a gunslinger who is going to rely heavily on short passes.

If the selection of Landon Young at No. 206 or Kawaan Baker at No. 255 would have been Book, there would be little controversy with the selection. Instead, he was overdrafted, leading to Saints fans to lose their minds thinking the former Fighting Irishman might actually be considered a starter.

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