1 quarterback the Saints can target in each round of 2022 NFL Draft
Round 5: Kaleb Eleby (Western Michigan)
At this point of the draft, the Saints aren’t banking on finding their next starting quarterback. The point of taking a quarterback this late is to see if they can maybe develop into a decent backup option or to add competition for camp.
Kaleb Eleby stepped into the starting role at Western Michigan this past year and threw for 3,277 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six picks. He added six rushing touchdowns on the year as well.
Eleby might not have the strongest arm but The Draft Network notes that he can follow an NFL scheme quite well and that’s what makes him an interesting prospect. He’s not going to come into New Orleans and be the starting quarterback but perhaps he could serve as a decent backup moving forward.
Round 6: Brock Purdy (Iowa State)
A little under two years ago, it felt like Brock Purdy would be a fairly high pick when he eventually entered the draft but that’s not the case anymore. Purdy could, however, make a career as a backup in the league and that’s what the Saints would be shooting for if they were to spend a sixth-rounder on him.
Purdy dipped off after that prolific 2019 season where he threw for just under 4,000 yards and tossed 27 touchdowns. This past year he was fine with 3,188 yards through the air and 19 touchdowns to eight interceptions.
The Iowa State product is athletic and excels at getting rid of the ball quickly and relying on his weapons to do the work. That could make him an interesting option for NOLA, as he could dump the ball off to Alvin Kamara or whoever and let them make a play. He’s worth looking into at least as a future backup signal-caller.
Round 7: Eric Barriere (Eastern Washington)
The Saints don’t have a seventh-round pick but that might not stop them from jumping back into the final round if they see a player they like enough. Eric Barriere could be someone they find themselves leaping back into the seventh round to land.
Barriere threw for over 5,000 yards and 46 touchdowns during his senior campaign at Eastern Washington and rushed for 222 yards with four touchdowns. He’s not someone to expect to start, especially not as a rookie, but the Eagle is in Pro Football Network’s top 10 quarterbacks for this draft and it’s not hard to see why.
The biggest knock on him is that he played at a smaller school but don’t let that fool you. This kid could end up being a steal in the seventh round.
Would you want to see the New Orleans Saints add any of these quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft?