2021 NFL Mock Draft: Saints select big-name SEC quarterback at 31

The New Orleans Saints still have several months to plan what they want to do with their late first-round pick, but there’s one obvious option.

After drafting offensive lineman with their first pick in the past two drafts, the New Orleans Saints may opt to go a different way in the coming year. It may not be by choice that they draft a quarterback, but that could easily be their best move.

The 2021 draft class is loaded with top-tier quarterback talent. Ohio State’s Justin Fields and Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence will lead the charge at the top of the order, but there will be many to follow.

The Saints will likely be in the market for a quarterback above any other position. They have players on the offensive line, defensive line, linebackers and cornerbacks locked up for the foreseeable future.

While there are question marks surrounding if the team can retain Marcus Williams, Ryan Ramczyk, and Marshon Lattimore in the near future, the biggest issue will be one that clearly needs to be addressed in the coming years — quarterback.

The 41-year-old has captained the team for over a decade. They’ve thrived under his leadership, having won a Super Bowl have currently on their way to potentially their fourth straight three-loss regular season.

But, again, he’s 41. This could easily be his last year. If it is, the Saints won’t want to hinge all their chips on Taysom Hill turning into a franchise quarterback and Jameis Winston coming back after they passed over him for the starting position while Brees is on the injured reserve.

That’s why in one of the most recent mock drafts they have the Saints selected a quarterback. The one that they opt for isn’t Kyle Trask. Trask isn’t one of the five taken in the first round. Rather, they opt for Alabama’s Mac Jones.

“Mac Jones lacks the mobility to be an early selection but he would be a fine replacement for Drew Brees because of the structure in place. The offensive line is always a priority for New Orleans and Michael Thomas is one of the best wide receivers in the game,” CBS Sports Josh Edwards wrote.

The Crimson Tide have been led so far to an undefeated record by Jones. The 6-foot-2 quarterback has over 2,700 yards during his junior season. That also includes a 23 to 3 touchdown to interception ratio.

Jones would be a win for the Saints, so hopefully, Edwards is right and Loomis decides to draft a quarterback in the first round.