Sean Payton doesn’t think Saints “must” draft quarterback

The New Orleans Saints have shown interest in Kyle Trask, but they may opt to pass on a quarterback altogether if one doesn’t fall in their lap. New Orleans could use a Jake Fromm-like fall from Trask before they select him.

There are many other options, especially those that could be there in the first round. Mac Jones and potentially even a trade-up for Trey Lance could both be in play if the team really doesn’t feel Jameis Winston is their long-term solution.

The New Orleans Saints have two capable, proven quarterbacks, and head coach Sean Payton doesn’t think drafting one is a “must.”

The most likely scenario is that the Saints will go into next season with Jameis Winston as their starting quarterback. While there will be a quarterback battle, it’d be shocking to see him on the sidelines come Week 1.

However, Winston is 27 years old. Some expect the Saints to search for Drew Brees. Don’t tell Sean Payton that because he doesn’t feel that drafting a quarterback is a “must” with both Hill and Winston on the roster.

“I think relative to that position (QB), it still stays the same in traits that we’re looking for. (But) I don’t think it’s a ‘must’ position. We feel like we’ve got real good players in the building,” Payton via Saints senior writer John DeShazier.

Payton is right though, and I don’t expect the Saints to draft a quarterback within the first three rounds.

They gutted their roster of several capable veterans like Janoris Jenkins, Emmanuel Sanders, and Nick Easton. That’s just a fraction of what they lost as Trey Hendrickson and Sheldon Rankins both his the open market and went elsewhere.

The Saints need players to fill in those holes. They’ll desperately need a cornerback and a No. 2 wide receiver. I’d expect the team to look there with their first couple picks with receiver being the less imminent need.

At least for now, quarterback isn’t a glaring need which is why Trask in the fourth round should be the first place the Saints start to look among other options potentially being there as well. But, don’t necessarily expect New Orleans to heavily target one this time around.

The need just isn’t there.