Overtime

For the Saints, it is the perfect time to draft a quarterback in the first round.

A new coach is hired. He inherits a quality roster that is still plenty good enough to win.

The rookie quarterback will work behind a solid offensive line, and alongside a very good defense.

The Saints, with a core group of talented young players, will make a rookie quarterback’s job, that much easier.

We’ve heard that it isn’t a good year for quarterbacks in the draft.

Maybe so.

But, the Saints, who currently at pick 18, could still get a quality signal caller in that spot.

You don’t have to pick in the top five to get a game changer.

The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes was the 10th pick in the first round.

The Texans’ Deshaun Watson was pick No. 12.

Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay was pick No. 24.

And, Russell Wilson of Seattle was pick No. 75 in third round.

Wilson would be a quarterback who could shorten the Saints road back to the Super Bowl considerably.

But, Seattle is unlikely to part with him in a trade.

Same for Rodgers. The Packers are reportedly unwilling to deal him.

Rodgers could be a free agent in 2023.

One player who will generate considerable interest via trade is 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo is 31 wins, 14 losses as the 49ers starter.

But, over the last three seasons, his touchdown to interception rate is not good.

He’s thrown 54 touchdown passes, against 30 interceptions.

The 49ers are ready to move on from Garappolo, and give the job to second year quarterback Trey Lance.

And, the belief is that the 49ers might settle for a second round pick in return, because the rest of the league is aware of San Francisco’s desire to trade him.

But, you wonder if quarterbacks around the league would consider New Orleans to be a great landing spot, now that Sean Payton, one of the league’s best offensive coaches, has left the building.

The Saints drafting a quarterback in the first round has only happened twice.

In 1981, the Saints used a first round pick in the supplemental draft to select Illinois quarterback Dave Wilson.

Ten years earlier, the Saints, with the second pick in the first round drafted Archie Manning.

Rookie quarterbacks are a risky proposition.

For every Joe Burrow, there seems to be two or three misses.

In the 2016 draft, the first two picks were quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz.

Both are on their second teams.

The best quarterback selected in that draft was Dak Prescott, by Dallas, in the fourth round with pick 135.

So, if Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, would ask, I would tell him the following.

Tell your scouting staff to do voluminous research.

And, rank the best rookie quarterbacks.

And, then draft one.

To quote the head coach at Tampa Bay, Bruce Arians, “no risk it, no biscuit.”