New Orleans Saints way-too-early 2023 three-round mock draft

Round 3: Pick 76 – Grayson McCall, QB (Coastal Carolina)

This is the surprising pick that I alluded to earlier but hear me out. Jameis Winston re-signed on a two-year deal this offseason meaning that by this time next year, he’ll be entering year two of his deal.

There are multiple reasons why Winston might not be in the Big Easy past the 2023 season. One of those reasons is that Winston might have played decent enough to merit a better opportunity with another team, perhaps a team that’s willing to give him more money and more years on his next contract. The other reason could be that the Saints might not want Winston back if he doesn’t play well.

Either way, New Orleans needs to be eyeing a quarterback in next year’s draft to eventually step in and replace the former No. 1 overall pick. Grayson McCall out of Coastal Carolina could be the right guy to do just that.

I know the Saints don’t have a great history of drafting guys named Grayson in the third round (Garrett Grayson shoutout) but McCall would be drafted with the intent of letting him sit for a year and then putting him in as the starter.

The Coastal Carolina quarterback has had back-to-back impressive seasons, throwing for 26 touchdowns one year and 27 touchdowns the next year and only tossing three interceptions in each season. He passed for 2,873 yards this past year with the Chanticleers.

With no first-round pick and the defensive line a more pressing need earlier on, Grayson McCall makes sense for the Saints in round three.