New Orleans Saints: Handing out regular-season grades for each position

Quarterbacks

For the season straight season, the Saints had to start multiple quarterbacks this season. In fact, this season, three different players took snaps under center.

Overall, it was a very strange season for Drew Brees. Right away, it was clear that some of his arm strength that he had held onto earlier in the season had disappeared, particularly as he averaged just 5.33 yards/attempt in the season opener against the Bucs.

Between Weeks 5 and 8, meanwhile, he failed to average over 8 yards/attempt in a game and relied a lot on his playmakers to make plays after the catch. He averaged six intended yards per attempt, and received over 5.4 yards after the catch per pass attempt, indicating an extremely conservative playstyle.

However, Brees also wasn’t as efficient as normal. His on target% was down 10 percentage points from last season, while his bad throw rate escalated by 1.5 percentage points. Plus, not only did he throws six interceptions, but he was extremely lucky to not throw more:

All told, Brees wasn’t at his usual peak self in 2020. However, it wasn’t as though he played poorly by any means.

He was without his star receiver in Michael Thomas for most of the season, was sacked at an extremely low rate (3.2%), and still ranked as an above-average quarterback in most statistical categories.

Thus, although he underwhelmed, it’s clear that he is still a quarterback you can win with.

As for Taysom Hill, the same does not apply for him. Yes, New Orleans went 3-1 with him under center, but those wins came against a Broncos team without a quarterback and the Falcons, who have the 4th pick in the draft.

Additionally, a lot of his success came in fluky areas (play under pressure) or by virtue of early-down play-action passes, meaning he may have been a product of statistical noise and Sean Payton’s play-calling that his own doing.

He took multiple sacks in every game he played, averaged just 6.24 yards/attempt in his final three games, and also fumbled the ball six times. It certainly would be difficult to commit to him as the team’s starting quarterback next season.

The same applies to Jameis Winston, who only played meaningful snaps when Brees got injured in Week 10. The fact that Payton chose to start Hill over him is telling, and I’d be surprised if he was on the roster next season.

Overall QB Grade: C+

Brees: B-

Hill: C

Winston: C