Saints: Sean Payton reveals when he’ll name a starting quarterback

Saints head coach Sean Payton has to choose between quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston and he knows when he plans to do it.

When will Saints head coach Sean Payton announce his starting quarterback for 2021?

When he wants to and not a moment sooner.

Literally, the head coach isn’t setting a timeline for naming a starter. His answer to a question about the timing was as vague as can be.

“Before we play our first game,” Payton told ESPN’s Lisa Salters.

Sean Payton isn’t in a rush to name his Saints quarterback for 2021

Payton is picking between Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston.

The former filled in for Drew Brees last season and went 3-1 while showing off his mobility and versatility. He has unique abilities as a runner that bolster his claim to the starting job.

The latter is a former No. 1 overall pick with a higher ceiling as a passer. While his time in Tampa Bay turned sour because of serious interception problems, he has thrown more than 5,000 yards in a season in his career.

The temptation to go with a two-quarterback system may be strong, but Payton and company still need to pick a primary QB.

The Saints will begin the regular season on Sept. 12 against Green Bay. Payton will be able to evaluate his quarterbacks in game situations against the Jaguars on Monday night and in a final preseason bout against the Cardinals on Aug. 28.

It will be interesting to see how long Payton draws it out. Picking a quarterback right after the game against Arizona would seem to make the most sense, giving the man who wins the job a couple of weeks to settle in as QB1.