Saints find their quarterback of the future in three-round mock draft

The New Orleans Saints don't currently have a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft but that doesn't mean they can't draft a quarterback early on.

That's exactly what the Saints do in the second round in my latest mock draft. I used NFL Mock Draft Database to conduct this mock and it was my first time using their mock draft simulator. I liked using theirs because it grades all of your picks and even suggests players for you to select.

Let's check out how my three-round (really just two) went for New Orleans.

All draft profiles courtesy of The Draft Network

All stats courtesy of ESPN

Round 2: Pick 38 - Hendon Hooker, QB (Tennessee)

"Hooker is an athletic quarterback with good mobility, offering a dual-threat skill set. His physical ability creates a wide-open playbook. "

- Joe Marino, The Draft Network

This would be an interesting pick for the Saints but it'd give them a potential franchise quarterback to build around. They have Jameis Winston under contract for one more season so it's possible that they bring in a rookie quarterback to sit behind him.

Hooker has been a star at Tennessee this year, tossing for 2,338 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just one interception with a QB rating of 136. He's also a threat running with the ball, tallying 338 yards and four scores with his legs.

Hooker has star power at Tennessee but his game might translate as well to the NFL. Sean Payton would have been a nice coach to help him get to that point but Dennis Allen doesn't offer that same potential. Still, if Hooker is sitting on the board in the second round, the Saints should take a chance on him and see if he can successfully make the switch from college to NFL.

Round 3: Pick 76 - Rashad Torrence II, S (Florida)

" In the Gators’ defense, Torrence aligns as a box safety when they need an extra defender to play against the run. At this position, Torrence shows to be an effective tackler. Torrence also shows that he can run from depth to close on ball carriers to make tackles. This allows coaches to place him in multiple alignments knowing that he will be able to make plays from anywhere. "

- Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network

Sticking in the SEC, the Saints add help to their secondary in the third round by adding Rashad Torrence out of Florida. They still have Marcus Maye and Tyrann Mathieu under contract for next season but it doesn't hurt to add depth in the secondary, which has been vulnerable this year.

As Sanchez noted in the quoted blurb above, Torrence is a good tackler and has helped Florida's defense against the run this season. With 66 tackles through eight games, he's shown that he can bring playmakers down and that'd be a welcomed addition to a Saints defense that has struggled to follow through on tackles.

What do you think of this three-round mock draft?