Are the New Orleans Saints truly interested in Paxton Lynch?

The New Orleans Saints seem to have an interest in Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, so we get a closer look at him and suggest how he may fit in down on the bayou.

We continue our draft profile coverage with Paxton Lynch, a potential franchise player who could be on the New Orleans Saints‘ radar as Drew Brees’ contract situation continues on the path to nowhere.

Measurables:
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 244 LBS
Arm length: 34 1/4 inches
Hands: 10 1/4 inches

Scouting Combine Results:
40-yard dash: 4.86 seconds
Vertical: 36 inches (Top performer)
Broad jump: 118 inches (Top performer)
3-cone drill: 7.14 seconds

Analysis:
Paxton Lynch possesses towering height with an athletic frame, giving him the ability to read the field over his blockers and making it easier to find the open man.

He’s excellent in the pocket thanks to great awareness and footwork, which give him the ability to maneuver around and out of the pocket as a productive scrambler.

Most importantly, he protects the football, as he tossed just four interceptions in 2015. Great size and awareness to go along with leadership qualities and a strong arm make Lynch an intriguing prospect and potential long-term starter.

Not every quarterback is perfect, obviously. And Lynch falls into that category. He scrambles a lot, and he’ll often make his throws on the run, which make it hard to place the ball where it needs to go on a consistent basis. His delivery needs work too, as he tends to rely on his arm and uses little power from his lower body, which will cause velocity problems. But all that can be fixed by a good coaching staff.

Watch Lynch take care of business against a 13th ranked Ole Miss team:

How he fits with the New Orleans Saints:
If the New Orleans Saints are indeed thinking about life after Drew Brees, which could be next season, Paxton Lynch could be an enticing option, despite the pick of Garrett Grayson in the third round a year ago. Lynch’s height is truly ideal for the quarterback position at 6-foot-7. It’s a luxury Brees (6’0) has had to live without, but that hasn’t stopped him from producing elite numbers year after year.

More from Saints Draft

So far, the New Orleans Saints have met with Lynch at the scouting combine, they sent representatives to his pro day, and they hosted him for a visit. But are the Saints truly interested? They could be. Either that or they’re firing shots at Drew Brees’ agent to get an extension finalized, or baiting other teams in need of a quarterback into trading up in the selection process, or both.

However, the delay on a contract extension for Brees is beginning to cause some concern. It’s a deal that has supposedly been in the works for several months. Head coach Sean Payton said it would be an easy situation to take care of. But it seems the team is in no hurry to extend their All-Pro quarterback, nor does it seem like they’re willing to give him the money he wants. Or this could all be part of a master plan to trick other teams in the draft. Of course, this is all speculation, but it does raise questions.

Lynch is an outstanding, young player, but there are just too many other obligations at the moment, like finding a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball for example. Though, if the New Orleans Saints do feel an urgency to find a new quarterback, assuming they don’t like what they see in Grayson, well, I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens when the draft rolls around. Lynch is one of five quarterback prospects from the incoming rookie class the team has met with so far.

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New Orleans Saints 2016 NFL Draft Profile: Paxton Lynch

By Andrew Schuster | Apr 18, 2016

The New Orleans Saints seem to have an interest in Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, so we get a closer look at him and suggest how he may fit in down on the bayou.