Saints’ 2022 wish list begins with finding a quarterback

By Ed Daniels
Clarion Herald

For the Saints to overcome all they did in 2021 and still have a winning record was impressive.

What the 9-8 season showed is that despite a litany of hurdles, the Saints still have a young, talented roster.

The core of young outstanding players includes Marcus Davenport, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Alvin Kamara, Erik McCoy, Ryan Ramczyk and Marcus Williams. Ramczyk is the oldest of that group at the ripe old age of 27.

So, the Saints figure to be solid for several years to come, but “solid” isn’t good enough. And, Sean Payton is well aware.

So, where do the Saints look to improve? Pretty simple. They have to find their next franchise quarterback.

There’s a common thread among playoff teams, and that is completion percentage. Of the top 11 quarterbacks in completion percentage, 10 made the playoffs.

The Rams’ Matt Stafford was 11th (67.2%). There is an outlier. Buffalo’s Josh Allen was 24th in completion percentage (63.3%). The Bills won 11 games and the AFC East title.

So, here are the Saints’ completion percentage numbers: Jameis Winston (59%); Taysom Hill (58.2%); and Trevor Siemian (57.4%).

If you are Sean Payton, there’s only one conclusion you can draw from those numbers: They aren’t good enough.

There could be some mitigating factors. The Saints played the entire season without their best wide receiver, Michael Thomas. And they lacked the stretch-the-field receiver that so many have.

So, does Payton say, “One or two of the guys I have can get better?” Or, does he look elsewhere?

It appears increasingly likely that both Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and Seattle’s Russell Wilson will return to their clubs next season.

Wilson said in a recent TV interview that he wanted to be the Seattle quarterback for 20 years. And, Rodgers’ chilly relationship with the Packers, seems to be thawing.

And, then there’s Deshaun Watson. The Texans quarterback did not play a down in 2021 as he was named in numerous lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct. It is worth noting that Watson has never been criminally charged, but he still could be subject to NFL discipline.

Watson is an unreal talent. In 2020, he completed more than 70% of his passes and averaged almost nine yards an attempt. He also threw 33 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions.

Those are Drew Brees-like numbers. And, Watson turns 27 in September.

There’s no doubting Watson’s on-field credentials, but any team who acquires him from Houston will likely face intense criticism.

The draft could also be an option. If the Saints stay at pick 18 overall and select, Ole Miss’ Matt Corral and Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder could be available.

In 2006, Sean Payton made the correct quarterback decision, and 15 years of success followed. In 2021, the Saints, already in salary cap jail, face limited options.

Before his season ended in Week 7, Winston played above average. But, coming off major knee surgery, can he make a giant leap? Can Taysom Hill do the same? Or, does Payton look to door No. 3?

Whatever he decides, the numbers say he needs an accurate passer. Without that quarterback, 2022 may again be good, but not great.

Ed Daniels is sports director at ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at ed@nextstar.tv.