NFL Draft 2015: Saints select Garrett Grayson with 75th pick
There has been a ton of speculation to whether or not the New Orleans Saints would look for a quarterback to eventually take over after Drew Brees calls it quits. Well, they did just that in the third round, selecting Colorado State QB Garrett Grayson with the 75th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Many thought it would be Baylor QB Bryce Petty who would find a home down on the bayou, but it looks like Sean Payton and GM Mickey Loomis found a trust in Grayson.
So what does Garrett Grayson bring to the table?
The 6-foot-2, 213 pound gunslinger is tough, has a great arm with excellent accuracy and can throw the deep ball, actually drawing comparisons to the Saints’ current starter by a handful of experts. He ran a somewhat pro-style offense at Colorado State with experience under center, in the pistol and in shotgun formation.
Grayson can work to improve his release, which is a little slower than preferred, but who better to learn behind than future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees?
From CSURAMS.com:
"2014 (Senior): Named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference… started all 13 games, completing 64.3% of his passes (270-420) for 4,006 yards and 32 touchdowns, with seven interceptions… his 4,006 passing yards set a new CSU single-season passing record and ranked 4th in NCAA FBS… part of trio that made Colorado State the only FBS school with a 4,000-yard passer, 1,500-yard receiver (Rashard Higgins–1,750) and 1,000-yard rusher (Dee Hart–1,275)… threw for more than 400 yards in two different games to claim two of the top four passing games in school history… his 32 touchdowns tied for 8th in NCAA FBS… finished the year ranked first in the Mountain West in passing yards and touchdowns… pass efficiency rating of 166.2 ranks 5th in NCAA FBS and first among Mountain West quarterbacks…one of five FBS quarterbacks with 25 or more passing touchdowns than interceptions… Holds the top spot in every major CSU career passing category: Yards (1st), touchdowns (1st), completions (1st), attempts (1st) and completion percentage (1st)… his 32 touchdowns were the most ever by a CSU quarterback in a single season, eclipsing his 2013 total of 23, which had tied Justin Holland’s standard from 2005… chosen to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Jan. 24, 2015 in Mobile, Ala., and accepted an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine in February 2015.2013 (Junior): Recorded one of the best statistical seasons in Colorado State history…started all 14 games and completed 62.1% of his passes (297-478) for 3,696 yards and 23 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions…297 completions ranked 14th NCAA FBS & most on CSU’s single-season list…became single-season passing leader at CSU throwing for 3,696 yards, only the fourth 3,000-yard passer at CSU…first combo in school history of a 3,000-yard passer and 1,500-yard rusher in the same season (Kapri Bibbs, 1,741), and only FBS school in 2013 with a 3,200-yard passer and 1,500-yard rusher…claimed school record for single-game total offense, tallying 445 (397 pass, 48 rush) vs. Boise State (Nov. 2), breaking Bradlee Van Pelt’s record of 416 with Van Pelt in attendance on the weekend he was inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame…finished season ranked ninth on CSU’s all-time touchdown pass list (32) and 10th on CSU’s all-time passing yards list (5,184)."
Who Dat Nation, say hello to who will likely be your next starting quarterback. Whether he pans out or not, I’m willing to bet Payton and Loomis believe Garrett Grayson is the next guy up to bat. They would not spend a third-round pick if they thought otherwise. Obviously, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers come to mind, but it’s certainly going to be interesting to see what happens in a few years.
The New Orleans Saints selected Florida State CB P.J. Williams with the 78th pick. Positions are still needed — defensive tackle, wide receiver, guard and defensive end should go Saturday. The Black and Gold still have four picks remaining — two in the fifth (148 and 154), one in the sixth (186) and another in the seventh (230).
Saints’ picks through three rounds:
1 (13): Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
1 (31): Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson
2 (44): Hau’oli Kikaha, OLB, Washington
3 (75): Garrett Grayson, QB, Colorado State
3 (78): P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State