Updated Saints mock draft after the Sean Payton trade

Saints mock draft: Second-to-third round selection is Hendon Hooker, QB

OK, fine. I’ll bite on the Hendon Hooker hype, just not at 41 overall. While I don’t see them using their 41st overall pick on him, I could see the team packaging later picks in the draft to move up and snag him in the late second round or early third, assuming another team hasn’t taken a massive leap of faith in him.

This will require some creativity for the Saints. But they do have the numbers in the third and fourth rounds to move things up. They could package some combination of the Nos. 72, 116, 149, and 169 picks and slide in where they think they can grab him.

While I think the better plan is to get a veteran quarterback, there’s no doubt that it would be ideal if the Saints could get a young, talented QB to be the face of the future so the under-center role isn’t a perpetual question mark for New Orleans moving forward in the post-Payton/Brees era.

Hooker’s — who tore his ACL this year — recovery is reportedly going well:

Hooker played in just 11 games this year, fewer than last, but set personal highs in passing yards and completions.

Hooker fits the mold of what the modern QB looks like: A strong arm and good passer but unafraid to run the ball as well, and good at it. He had 430 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in 2022.

Saints mock draft: Projections if they keep all their picks

Assuming a crazy scenario like the above doesn’t take place, here’s what we’d expect:

1. No. 30: DT, Calijah Kancey
2. No. 41: Kayshon Boutte
3. No. 72: TE, Sam LaPorta
4. No. 116: RB, Eric Gray
5. No. 149 OG, Chris Murray
6. No. 169 S, Quindell Johnson
7. No. 230 EDGE, Brenton Cox Jr.
8. No. 261: DL, Dante Stills