INDIANAPOLIS – The Saints remain confident that “Plan A” will work out this offseason, maybe even in the coming days, if they are able to secure a deal with free agent quarterback Derek Carr.
Plan B? Well, that’s way more convoluted (which is part of the reason why the Saints like Plan A so much.)
Jimmy Garoppolo is the only other available free agent QB that would be considered a definite upgrade over Andy Dalton or Jameis Winston – but only at the right price, especially considering Garoppolo’s injury history.
The Saints know that Dalton had his limitations last season, especially when they needed the quarterback to step up and be a game-changer in the final minutes. But they liked enough of what Dalton did to make him the odds-on favorite among the lower tier of free agent quarterbacks that all come with different warts or question marks. And in a perfect world, they could have both Carr and Dalton in the fold in 2023 as starter and backup.
But if Dalton somehow winds up heading into 2023 as New Orleans’ projected starter, it would feel like a “must” in my mind that the Saints pair him with a young developmental option in the draft. They have to be peddling hope and a higher ceiling in some form or fashion.
So when we came to the combine in Indianapolis this week, I was curious to hear from some of the top “Plan B” options that several NFL teams must consider if they miss out on the highly-rated trio of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Will Levis.
The first thing that stood out to me is the Saints can probably cross Florida’s Anthony Richardson off the list of realistic options since it feels like someone is going to take a chance on him early in Round 1. Richardson has been generating a ton of buzz this week – even before his Saturday workout that will surely dazzle considering his combination of size, speed and arm strength.
Not everyone will have Richardson graded as an elite prospect – and from what I’ve gathered so far, I don’t expect the Saints to grade him in that highest tier. But all it takes is one team to fall in love with the enormous potential of a player who said Friday that he started calling himself “Cam Jackson” in high school because he wants to emulate both Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson.
Florida QB Anthony Richardson started calling himself “Cam Jackson” in high school because he grew up admiring Cam Newton but then saw how dynamic Lamar Jackson was. Said he tries to implement both.
Also said he’s willing to work hard enough to be a “legend” like Mahomes, Brady. pic.twitter.com/52jacshoMr
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) March 3, 2023
“I want to be a legend. I want to be like Patrick Mahomes, I want to be like Tom Brady,” Richardson said. “I want to be one of the greats – I will be one of the greats, because I’m willing to work that hard and get to that point.”
Richardson’s skillset will need to be refined after a disappointing junior year that ended with a 6-7 record for the team and a 53.8 completion percentage and 17-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio for the quarterback. Richardson’s footwork and fastball throwing style are often mentioned among areas that need to be developed. But he has reportedly impressed teams in interviews, and I’ve talked with analysts who like the way he sees the field and doesn’t just rely on his legs.
Richardson himself had some fun with the word “project” when he was asked about that label on Friday.
“My guy right there said I’m a project,” he said, smiling at a reporter. “So I guess teams already know I have room to grow. They see sparks in me, I see them myself as well.
“I don’t even know what that means, ‘project label,’ but I’m willing to bring everything and anything that they need from me. I’m gonna work hard, I’m gonna be dedicated to my craft, and I’m just gonna be a leader in that organization.”
The most intriguing prospect to me that could line up with the Saints in the draft is Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker. Perhaps as high as the 40th pick if they don’t land Carr – and definitely compelling at pick No. 71 in Round 3 even if they do sign Carr.
Hooker was a late bloomer after beginning his college career at Virginia Tech. But he had a sensational senior season at Tennessee before tearing his ACL in November, finishing with 3,135 passing yards, 27 TD passes and just two interceptions.
Hooker’s injury and his age (he turned 25 in January) are two of the reasons why he isn’t projected to go in Round 1. But that feels like an opportunity for the Saints or some other team to find a potential great value on Day 2. And who cares if he doesn’t make a big contribution as a rookie if a team believes he can be a long-term answer?
Unfortunately Hooker isn’t healthy enough to sway teams on the field yet this week. But he said he will resume throwing next week and has started to resume total body workouts, with an expectation that he’ll be full-go by the start of training camp.
“It starts with attitude. I am extremely blessed to be here – this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something I have dreamed of since I was a kid,” Hooker said of his combine experience.
He said one thing he wants to show teams is that he can “control the offense.”
“As you can see on film, a lot of times I make a lot of protection calls, make a lot of checks at the line – you can see run-to-pass, pass-to-run. And then I can make every throw,” said Hooker, who pointed to his consistency and accuracy after completing nearly 70% of his passes last year and 68% in 2021. “The way that we run our offense, the wide splits, those are all grown-man throws. I’m not throwing five-yard outs, I’m throwing big boy balls.”
Hooker also had some fun with one of the common knocks he is well aware of – that Tennessee’s offense under coach Josh Heupel made things too easy on the QB.
“I can’t help that defenders can’t guard my receivers,” Hooker cracked. “My job is to get them the ball. A lot of these questions about one-sided reads and stuff, we have pure progression routes. It’s not my fault my first read is getting open. But we have pre-snap looks, one-high, two-high, which side, double footwork combo. We have pure progressions with an alert with an option.
“So any of these questions, they’re cool and all, but if you really dig into our offense and actually watch the film, then you’d understand it’s elevated to a whole other level. And how fast that we’re going, I have to process a lot of information at the same time, and communicate with everyone.”
