Can Saints’ draft pick Ian Book enter the QB battle in New Orleans?

The New Orleans Saints had a quarterback dilemma. They didn’t have enough cap to go out and sign a big-name player, and they also thought that their quarterback was already in the room meaning Jameis Winston and/or Taysom Hill.

After passing on Kyle Trask, the most notable link at quarterback to the Saints over the last couple of months, I thought that New Orleans was really going to stick with one of the two of the aforementioned quarterbacks.

That was until they drafted Notre Dame dual-threat quarterback Ian Book with their No. 28 pick in the fourth round of the draft. According to ESPN, he was the No. 10 ranked quarterback in the draft, but he presents New Orleans with an interesting new dilemma.

The New Orleans Saints have a new quarterback in town! Could he vie Winston or Hill for the position this year or in the future?

Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill are both on a contract that can be ended next year. That leaves Ian Book, if signed, as the only “long-term” signed quarterback on the roster. I already don’t think that Hill has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback so I am going to disregard him.

However, the battle between Jameis Winston and Ian Book is going to be interesting. I don’t think that Sean Payton, in any way, starts Book over Winston this year, but if Book progresses enough in the system this year, Payton could see him as the future.

To answer the question posed in the title, I do not think that Ian Book gives either Winston or Hill a run for their money in the QB battle that will happen this offseason. I do think, though, that Payton chose Book for a reason and that could be presented in the future.

In four years as Notre Dame’s premier passer, Book threw 728 completions for 8,984 yards and 72 touchdowns. On top of his passing ability, Book ran for 1,517 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground in 45 collegiate games.